Yonkers, New York planting calendar and frost dates
Yonkers is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 30 and the first fall frost around November 20, giving about 236 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 30
- Typical first frost
- November 20
- Frost-free season
- 236 days
Frost dates in Yonkers
Last spring frost
- March 14Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 30Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 9Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 6Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 20Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 6Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 236 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 March 19 and returns around December 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for New York Cntrl Pk Twr, 11.2 miles SSW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Yonkers shares this station with New York, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Yonkers
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, 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
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: potatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard
September
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
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Yonkers
All 7 of Yonkers's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from New York Cntrl Pk Twr, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 7a in 10703, and 7b in 10701, 10704, 10705, 10707, 10708, 10710.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10701 | 7b | New York Cntrl Pk Twr, 11.2 mi SSW | Mar 30 | Nov 20 |
| 10703 | 7a | New York Cntrl Pk Twr, 11.2 mi SSW | Mar 30 | Nov 20 |
| 10704 | 7b | New York Cntrl Pk Twr, 11.2 mi SSW | Mar 30 | Nov 20 |
| 10705 | 7b | New York Cntrl Pk Twr, 11.2 mi SSW | Mar 30 | Nov 20 |
| 10707 | 7b | New York Cntrl Pk Twr, 11.2 mi SSW | Mar 30 | Nov 20 |
| 10708 | 7b | New York Cntrl Pk Twr, 11.2 mi SSW | Mar 30 | Nov 20 |
| 10710 | 7b | New York Cntrl Pk Twr, 11.2 mi SSW | Mar 30 | Nov 20 |
New York Cntrl Pk Twr also supplies the frost dates for New York, Mount Vernon and West New York, so their planting calendars match Yonkers's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Yonkers
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 9 to 23 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Cilantro | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Mar 30 to Apr 6 | — |
| Basil | Mar 16 to 30 | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 6 to 13 | Jul 31 to Aug 7 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Nov 20 to Dec 4 |
| Onions | Dec 8 to Jan 19 | Mar 2 to 16 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 16 to Mar 16 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 9 to 30 | Aug 28 to Sep 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 23 to 30 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 6 to 20 | Aug 14 to 28 |
| Green Beans | — | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 12 to Feb 2 | Mar 2 to 16 | Sep 4 to Oct 2 |
| Peas | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Spinach | Feb 16 to 23 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Sep 11 to Oct 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 6 to 27 | — |
| Zinnias | May 12 to 19 | Jun 9 to 23 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 9 to Dec 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 9 to Nov 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Oct 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Mount Vernon, NY zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- New Rochelle, NY zone 7b, last frost Apr 12
- White Plains, NY zone 7a, last frost Apr 12
- West New York, NJ zone 7b, last frost Mar 30
- Passaic, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Union City, NJ zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
Planting in New YorkAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Yonkers
Questions
When is the last frost in Yonkers?
Around March 30 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for New York Cntrl Pk Twr. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 9.
What planting zone is Yonkers in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Yonkers?
Start seeds indoors March 9 to 23 and set plants out May 4 to 18.
When is the first frost in Yonkers?
Around November 20 in a typical year, and before November 6 about 1 year in 10.