Frost dates for ZIP 12903 (Plattsburgh, NY)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Plattsburgh Intl AP, NY (0 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)152 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Mount Mansfield (32 mi).
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 12903 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 24 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 6 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 19 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 23 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 5 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 22 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 19 | Sep 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 6 | Oct 5 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 25 | Oct 19 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 12903
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 5). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 11–25 | May 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 25–Mar 11 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 25–Mar 11 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 11–25 | May 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 11–25 | Apr 15–May 6 (transplant) Apr 8–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–31 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–31 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) Jun 29–Jul 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 11–25 | Apr 8–May 6 (transplant) Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) Jun 29–Jul 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Apr 22–May 13 (transplant) Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 1–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 11–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jun 15–29 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 27–Jun 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 8–15 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 8–15 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 8–15 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 8–15 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 8–15 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 11–25 | May 13–20 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Plattsburgh Intl AP, NY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00064776), elevation 234 ft, 0.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S Hero, VT | 8 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 20 |
| Peru 2 WSW, NY | 8 mi | May 4 | Oct 4 |
| Dannemora, NY | 13 mi | May 6 | Oct 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 12903
When is the last frost in 12903?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 12903 is May 6. For a more cautious planting date, use May 19, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 12903?
The average first fall freeze is October 5. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 23.
What hardiness zone is 12903?
ZIP 12903 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 12903 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
12901 Plattsburgh 12962 Morrisonville 05486 South Hero 12972 Peru 12911 12975 05458 12918 Cadyville
Other ZIP codes in Clinton County
12901 12910 12911 12912 12918 12919 12921 12923 12924 12929 12933 12934 12935 12952 12955 12958 12959 12962 12972 12978 12979 12981 12985 12992 All Clinton County frost dates · New York frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.