Utica, New York planting calendar and frost dates
Utica is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 1 and the first fall frost around October 13, giving about 164 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5b
- Typical last frost
- May 1
- Typical first frost
- October 13
- Frost-free season
- 164 days
Frost dates in Utica
Last spring frost
- April 19Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 13Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 164 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 20 and returns around October 27.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Utica Oneida Co Airport, 11.6 miles W of the city center and 294 feet lower. 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 Utica
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
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
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, 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, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
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
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
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Utica
All 2 of Utica's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Utica Oneida Co Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Utica
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 1 to 15 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Jul 14 to Aug 18 |
| Cilantro | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Apr 8 to 22 | May 27 to Jun 3 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Oct 13 to 27 |
| Onions | Jan 9 to Feb 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 29 to May 13 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 29 to May 13 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 11 to Apr 8 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 10 to May 1 | Jul 21 to Aug 11 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 14 to 21 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 29 to May 13 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 13 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 28 to Aug 25 |
| Peas | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Jul 21 to Aug 4 |
| Spinach | Mar 20 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Aug 4 to Sep 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 11 to 18 | Jul 9 to 23 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 1 to Oct 27 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 1 to Oct 13 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Sep 1 to 15 |
Nearby cities
- Syracuse, NY zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Schenectady, NY zone 6a, last frost Apr 27
- Albany, NY zone 6a, last frost Apr 27
- Troy, NY zone 6a, last frost Apr 27
- Scranton, PA zone 6b, last frost Apr 23
- Rochester, NY zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
Planting in New YorkAbout zone 5bPrintable calendar for Utica
Questions
When is the last frost in Utica?
Around May 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Utica Oneida Co Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 17.
What planting zone is Utica in?
USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Utica?
Start seeds indoors April 1 to 15 and set plants out May 27 to June 10.
When is the first frost in Utica?
Around October 13 in a typical year, and before September 29 about 1 year in 10.