Frost Dates for Cortland, NY 13045
Last spring frost May 14 · First fall frost October 3 · 142 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5b
ZIP 13045 has about 28,400 people.
Moderate season: 142 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans May 1–May 28 (27 days). Fall frost risk spans September 18–October 17 (29 days).
Frost probability for 13045
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 28 | May 14 | May 1 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 18 | October 3 | October 17 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at ITHACA CORNELL UNIV (26.2 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 142-day season in Cortland
In Cortland (142 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 9 | May 28–Jun 4 | 100 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 100 available after May 28. | Jun 3 |
| Pepper | Apr 2 | May 28–Jun 4 | 100 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 100 available after May 28. | Jun 8 |
| Lettuce | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 23 | 177 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 12 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 23–Apr 30 | 184 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 184 available after Apr 23. | Aug 1 |
| Cucumber | Apr 23 | May 28–Jun 4 | 114 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 114 available after May 28. | Jul 7 |
| Beans | — | May 21–Jun 4 | 128 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 128 available after May 21. | Jul 14 |
| Peas | — | Mar 19–May 28 | 205 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 205 available after Mar 19. | Jul 23 |
| Zucchini | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 114 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 114 available after May 28. | Jul 12 |
| Onion | Feb 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 177 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 177 available after Apr 16. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 19–May 7 | 219 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 31 |
| Kale | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 191 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Broccoli | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 177 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 177 available after Apr 16. | Jul 8 |
| Cabbage | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 191 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 191 available after Apr 16. | Aug 1 |
| Radish | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 205 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Oct 10. | Sep 1 |
| Beets | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 205 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 30–May 7 | 163 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 163 available after Apr 30. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 3 | 247 | overwinter: Plant Oct 3 to Oct 24; harvest the following summer. | Oct 24 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 9–Jun 4 | 198 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 9; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 16 | May 21–May 28 | 114 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 114 available after May 21. | Jun 15 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 30 | May 28–May 28 | 107 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 107 available after May 28. | — |
| Cauliflower | Apr 2 | May 7–May 21 | 156 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 156 available after May 7. | Jul 13 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 19 | Apr 30–Apr 30 | 163 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 219 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 31 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 191 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 191 available after Apr 16. | Jul 2 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 107 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 107 available after May 28. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 26 | May 28–Jun 4 | 100 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 100 available after May 28. | Jun 13 |
| Okra | Apr 16 | May 21–May 28 | 121 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 121 available after May 21. | Jul 12 |
| Basil | Apr 9 | Jun 4–Jun 4 | 107 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 107 available after Jun 4. | Jul 7 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 16–May 7 | 177 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 7 |
| Parsley | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 142 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 142 available after May 21. | Jul 18 |
| Celery | Mar 5 | May 21–Jun 4 | 142 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 142 available after May 21. | May 29 |
| Scallions | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 191 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 11 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 191 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 21 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 205 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 16 | May 7–May 14 | 156 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 12 |
| Collards | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 191 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 11 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 100 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 100 available after May 28. | May 29 |
| Chives | Feb 19 | May 21–May 28 | 156 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 156 available after May 21. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 205 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Oregano | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 156 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 156 available after May 21. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 19 | May 21–May 28 | 142 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 142 available after May 21. | — |
| Sage | Mar 19 | May 21–May 28 | 156 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 156 available after May 21. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 156 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 156 available after May 21. | — |
| Calendula | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 | 163 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 7 |
| Cosmos | Apr 16 | May 14–May 28 | 128 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 128 available after May 14. | Jul 7 |
| Lavender | Feb 19 | May 14–May 28 | 163 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 163 available after May 14. | — |
| Marigolds | Apr 2 | May 14–May 21 | 128 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 17 |
| Melons | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 100 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 100 available after May 28. | May 29 |
| Mint | — | May 14–May 28 | 163 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 163 available after May 14. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 128 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 12 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 21–Jun 4 | 121 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 121 available after May 21. | Jul 2 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 107 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 107 available after May 28. | May 31 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 14–May 28 | 128 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 128 available after May 14. | Jun 27 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 19 | May 21–May 28 | 107 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 107 available after May 21. | Jun 8 |
| Watermelon | Apr 30 | May 21–May 28 | 107 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 107 available after May 21. | Jun 3 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 114 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 114 available after May 28. | Jul 12 |
| Zinnias | Apr 16 | May 14–May 28 | 128 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 128 available after May 14. | Jul 7 |
Month by month in Cortland
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 19), Lavender (Feb 19), Onion (Feb 19), Rosemary (Feb 19). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 5), Collards (Mar 5), Kale (Mar 5), Oregano (Mar 5), Parsley (Mar 5), Scallions (Mar 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 19), Beets (Mar 19), Dill (Mar 19), Peas (Mar 19), Radish (Mar 19), Spinach (Mar 19). |
| April | Start indoors: Calendula (Apr 2), Cauliflower (Apr 2), Marigolds (Apr 2), Pepper (Apr 2), Basil (Apr 9), Tomato (Apr 9), +15 more. Direct sow from: Kohlrabi (Apr 2), Cilantro (Apr 16), Turnip (Apr 16), Carrots (Apr 23), Potatoes (Apr 30). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 16), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 16), Cabbage (Apr 16), Collards (Apr 16), Kale (Apr 16), Lettuce (Apr 16), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 9). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 14), Beans (May 21), Pole Beans (May 21). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 7), Cauliflower (May 7), Cosmos (May 14), Lavender (May 14), Marigolds (May 14), Mint (May 14), +24 more. Last frost around May 14. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 29), Celery (May 29), Melons (May 29), Spaghetti Squash (May 31). |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 4). Last sowing dates: Tomato (Jun 3), Watermelon (Jun 3), Pepper (Jun 8), Tomatillos (Jun 8), Eggplant (Jun 13), Corn (Jun 15), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Jul 2), Pole Beans (Jul 2), Basil (Jul 7), Cosmos (Jul 7), Cucumber (Jul 7), Zinnias (Jul 7), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 1), Carrots (Aug 1), Beets (Aug 2), Dill (Aug 2), Swiss Chard (Aug 2), Calendula (Aug 7), +10 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Radish (Sep 1). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 3). First frost around October 3. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 24). |
| 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 Cortland, NY (ZIP 13045)?
The median last spring frost date for Cortland, NY (ZIP code 13045) is around May 14. 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 May 1; one in ten it runs past May 28.
What is the first fall frost date in Cortland, NY?
The median first fall frost date for Cortland, NY is around October 3. 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 18 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Cortland, NY?
The frost-free growing season in Cortland is about 142 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 Cortland (142 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 Cortland, NY?
Cortland, NY is in USDA hardiness zone 5b (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 Cortland, NY?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 9 and plant out May 28 in Cortland. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Cortland?
Two: plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10.
When do I plant garlic in Cortland?
Oct 3 to Oct 24; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Groton (ZIP 13073) has 162 frost-free days, 20 more than Cortland (ZIP 13045). See Groton ZIP 13073 frost dates
Nearby and related
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