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Syracuse, New York planting calendar and frost dates

Syracuse is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 29 and the first fall frost around October 19, giving about 173 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6a
Typical last frost
April 29
Typical first frost
October 19
Frost-free season
173 days

Frost dates in Syracuse

Last spring frost

  • April 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • April 29Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 13Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 19Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 4Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 173 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 16 and returns around November 2.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Syracuse Hancock International Airport, 4.9 miles NNE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.

What to plant each month in Syracuse

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  3. March

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers

  5. May

    Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  6. June

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  7. July

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard

  8. August

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips

  9. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Syracuse

All 9 of Syracuse's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Syracuse Hancock International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
132026aSyracuse Hancock International Airport, 4.9 mi NNEApr 29Oct 19
132036aSyracuse Hancock International Airport, 4.9 mi NNEApr 29Oct 19
132046aSyracuse Hancock International Airport, 4.9 mi NNEApr 29Oct 19
132056aSyracuse Hancock International Airport, 4.9 mi NNEApr 29Oct 19
132066aSyracuse Hancock International Airport, 4.9 mi NNEApr 29Oct 19
132076aSyracuse Hancock International Airport, 4.9 mi NNEApr 29Oct 19
132086aSyracuse Hancock International Airport, 4.9 mi NNEApr 29Oct 19
132106aSyracuse Hancock International Airport, 4.9 mi NNEApr 29Oct 19
132246aSyracuse Hancock International Airport, 4.9 mi NNEApr 29Oct 19

Planting dates for popular crops in Syracuse

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 27 to Apr 10May 22 to Jun 5—
Strawberries—Mar 18 to Apr 1—
LettuceMar 4 to 18Apr 22 to May 6Jul 20 to Aug 24
CilantroMar 18 to Apr 1Apr 29 to May 6—
BasilApr 3 to 17May 22 to 29—
Potatoes—Apr 24 to May 1—
Garlic—Mar 18 to Apr 1Oct 19 to Nov 2
OnionsJan 7 to Feb 18Apr 1 to 15—
CucumbersApr 24 to May 8May 22 to Jun 5—
PumpkinsApr 24 to May 8May 22 to Jun 5—
PeppersMar 6 to Apr 3May 22 to Jun 5—
Carrots—Apr 8 to 29Jul 27 to Aug 17
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 8 to 15—
WatermelonsApr 17 to May 1May 22 to Jun 5—
Sweet Corn—Apr 29 to May 13—
Green Beans—May 22 to Jun 5—
ZucchiniApr 24 to May 8May 22 to Jun 5—
BroccoliFeb 11 to Mar 4Apr 1 to 15Aug 3 to 31
Peas—Mar 18 to Apr 1Jul 27 to Aug 10
SpinachMar 18 to 25Apr 22 to May 6Aug 10 to Sep 14
Sunflowers—Apr 29 to May 20—
ZinniasMay 31 to Jun 7Jun 28 to Jul 12—
Tulips——Sep 7 to Nov 2
Daffodils——Sep 7 to Oct 19
Grass Seed—Mar 18 to Apr 1Sep 7 to 21

Nearby cities

Planting in New YorkAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Syracuse

Questions

When is the last frost in Syracuse?

Around April 29 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Syracuse Hancock International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 13.

What planting zone is Syracuse in?

USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Syracuse?

Start seeds indoors March 27 to April 10 and set plants out May 22 to June 5.

When is the first frost in Syracuse?

Around October 19 in a typical year, and before October 2 about 1 year in 10.