Frost Dates for Chelsea, VT 05038
Last spring frost May 11 · First fall frost October 1 · 143 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5a
ZIP 05038 has about 1,370 people.
Moderate season: 143 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 28–May 26 (28 days). Fall frost risk spans September 13–October 17 (34 days).
Frost probability for 05038
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 26 | May 11 | April 28 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 13 | October 1 | October 17 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at MONTPELIER AP (25.1 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 143-day season in Chelsea
In Chelsea (143 frost-free days, a moderate season), 38 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 17 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 6 | May 25–Jun 1 | 101 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 101 available after May 25. | Jun 1 |
| Pepper | Mar 30 | May 25–Jun 1 | 101 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 101 available after May 25. | Jun 6 |
| Lettuce | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 178 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 8. | Aug 10 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 185 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 185 available after Apr 20. | Jul 30 |
| Cucumber | Apr 20 | May 25–Jun 1 | 115 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 115 available after May 25. | Jul 5 |
| Beans | — | May 18–Jun 1 | 129 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 129 available after May 18. | Jul 12 |
| Peas | — | Mar 16–May 25 | 206 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 206 available after Mar 16. | Jul 21 |
| Zucchini | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 115 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 115 available after May 25. | Jul 10 |
| Onion | Feb 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 178 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 178 available after Apr 13. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 16–May 4 | 220 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 29 |
| Kale | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 192 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 14 |
| Broccoli | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 178 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 178 available after Apr 13. | Jul 6 |
| Cabbage | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 192 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 192 available after Apr 13. | Jul 30 |
| Radish | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 206 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Oct 8. | Aug 30 |
| Beets | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 206 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Jul 31; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 31 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 27–May 4 | 164 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 164 available after Apr 27. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 1 | 248 | overwinter: Plant Oct 1 to Oct 22; harvest the following summer. | Oct 22 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 6–Jun 1 | 199 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 6; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 115 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 115 available after May 18. | Jun 13 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 27 | May 25–May 25 | 108 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 108 available after May 25. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 30 | May 4–May 18 | 157 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 157 available after May 4. | Jul 11 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 16 | Apr 27–Apr 27 | 164 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Jul 31; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 31 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 220 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 29 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 192 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 192 available after Apr 13. | Jun 30 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 108 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 108 available after May 25. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 23 | May 25–Jun 1 | 101 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 101 available after May 25. | Jun 11 |
| Okra | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 122 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 122 available after May 18. | Jul 10 |
| Basil | Apr 6 | Jun 1–Jun 1 | 108 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 108 available after Jun 1. | Jul 5 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 13–May 4 | 178 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 8. | Aug 5 |
| Parsley | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 143 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 143 available after May 18. | Jul 16 |
| Celery | Mar 2 | May 18–Jun 1 | 143 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 143 available after May 18. | May 27 |
| Scallions | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 192 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 9 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 192 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 19 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 30–Apr 13 | 206 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 14 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 13 | May 4–May 11 | 157 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 8. | Aug 10 |
| Collards | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 192 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 22. | Aug 9 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 101 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 101 available after May 25. | May 27 |
| Chives | Feb 16 | May 18–May 25 | 157 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 157 available after May 18. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 206 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Jul 31; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 31 |
| Oregano | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 157 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 157 available after May 18. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 16 | May 18–May 25 | 143 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 143 available after May 18. | — |
| Sage | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 157 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 157 available after May 18. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 157 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 157 available after May 18. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 30 | Apr 27–May 11 | 164 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 8. | Aug 5 |
| Cosmos | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 129 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 129 available after May 11. | Jul 5 |
| Lavender | Feb 16 | May 11–May 25 | 164 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 164 available after May 11. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 30 | May 11–May 18 | 129 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 17. | Jul 15 |
| Melons | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 101 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 101 available after May 25. | May 27 |
| Mint | — | May 11–May 25 | 164 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 164 available after May 11. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 13 | May 11–May 18 | 129 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 10; both mature before Sep 17. | Jul 10 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 18–Jun 1 | 122 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 122 available after May 18. | Jun 30 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 108 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 108 available after May 25. | May 29 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 11–May 25 | 129 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 129 available after May 11. | Jun 25 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 108 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 108 available after May 18. | Jun 6 |
| Watermelon | Apr 27 | May 18–May 25 | 108 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 108 available after May 18. | Jun 1 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 115 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 115 available after May 25. | Jul 10 |
| Zinnias | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 129 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 129 available after May 11. | Jul 5 |
Month by month in Chelsea
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 16), Lavender (Feb 16), Onion (Feb 16), Rosemary (Feb 16). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 2), Collards (Mar 2), Kale (Mar 2), Oregano (Mar 2), Parsley (Mar 2), Scallions (Mar 2), +13 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 16), Beets (Mar 16), Dill (Mar 16), Peas (Mar 16), Radish (Mar 16), Spinach (Mar 16), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 6), Tomato (Apr 6), Bok Choy (Apr 13), Corn (Apr 13), Cosmos (Apr 13), Nasturtiums (Apr 13), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 13), Turnip (Apr 13), Carrots (Apr 20), Potatoes (Apr 27). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 13), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 13), Cabbage (Apr 13), Collards (Apr 13), Kale (Apr 13), Lettuce (Apr 13), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 6). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 11), Beans (May 18), Pole Beans (May 18). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 4), Cauliflower (May 4), Cosmos (May 11), Lavender (May 11), Marigolds (May 11), Mint (May 11), +24 more. Last frost around May 11. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 27), Celery (May 27), Melons (May 27), Spaghetti Squash (May 29). |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 1). Last sowing dates: Tomato (Jun 1), Watermelon (Jun 1), Pepper (Jun 6), Tomatillos (Jun 6), Eggplant (Jun 11), Corn (Jun 13), +3 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Basil (Jul 5), Cosmos (Jul 5), Cucumber (Jul 5), Zinnias (Jul 5), Broccoli (Jul 6), Nasturtiums (Jul 10), +13 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Aug 5), Cilantro (Aug 5), Collards (Aug 9), Scallions (Aug 9), Bok Choy (Aug 10), Lettuce (Aug 10), +6 more. |
| September | First fall frost approaching (around October 1). Transplant fall brassicas. Sow spinach, arugula, and radishes. |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 1). First frost around October 1. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 22). |
| November | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Chelsea, VT (ZIP 05038)?
The median last spring frost date for Chelsea, VT (ZIP code 05038) is around May 11. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 28; one in ten it runs past May 26.
What is the first fall frost date in Chelsea, VT?
The median first fall frost date for Chelsea, VT is around October 1. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 13 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Chelsea, VT?
The frost-free growing season in Chelsea is about 143 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Chelsea (143 frost-free days, a moderate season), 38 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 17 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Chelsea, VT?
Chelsea, VT is in USDA hardiness zone 5a (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Chelsea, VT?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 6 and plant out May 25 in Chelsea. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Chelsea?
Two: plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 8.
When do I plant garlic in Chelsea?
Oct 1 to Oct 22; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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