Frost Dates for Dunkirk, NY 14048
Last spring frost May 2 · First fall frost October 22 · 173 frost-free days · USDA Zone 7a
ZIP 14048 has about 14,700 people.
Moderate season: 173 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 20–May 14 (24 days). Fall frost risk spans October 8–November 5 (28 days).
Frost probability for 14048
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 14 | May 2 | April 20 |
| Fall (first frost) | October 8 | October 22 | November 5 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at FREDONIA (3.5 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 173-day season in Dunkirk
In Dunkirk (173 frost-free days, a moderate season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 28 | May 16–May 23 | 131 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 131 available after May 16. | Jun 22 |
| Pepper | Mar 21 | May 16–May 23 | 131 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 131 available after May 16. | Jun 27 |
| Lettuce | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 31 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 11–Apr 18 | 215 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 215 available after Apr 11. | Aug 20 |
| Cucumber | Apr 11 | May 16–May 23 | 145 | two-plantings: Plant May 16 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 26 |
| Beans | — | May 9–May 23 | 159 | two-plantings: Plant May 9 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 2 |
| Peas | — | Mar 7–May 16 | 236 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 236 available after Mar 7. | Aug 11 |
| Zucchini | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 145 | two-plantings: Plant May 16 and again by Jul 31; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 31 |
| Onion | Feb 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 208 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 208 available after Apr 4. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 7–Apr 25 | 250 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Sep 19; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 19 |
| Kale | Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 4 |
| Broccoli | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 208 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 208 available after Apr 4. | Jul 27 |
| Cabbage | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 222 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 222 available after Apr 4. | Aug 20 |
| Radish | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 236 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Sep 20; both mature before Oct 29. | Sep 20 |
| Beets | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 236 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 18–Apr 25 | 194 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 194 available after Apr 18. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 22 | 278 | overwinter: Plant Oct 22 to Nov 12; harvest the following summer. | Nov 12 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 28–May 23 | 229 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 28; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 4 | May 9–May 16 | 145 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 145 available after May 9. | Jul 4 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 18 | May 16–May 16 | 138 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 138 available after May 16. | Jun 9 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 21 | Apr 25–May 9 | 187 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 187 available after Apr 25. | Aug 1 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 7 | Apr 18–Apr 18 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 18 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 250 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Sep 19; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 19 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 222 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 222 available after Apr 4. | Jul 21 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 138 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 138 available after May 16. | Jun 9 |
| Eggplant | Mar 14 | May 16–May 23 | 131 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 131 available after May 16. | Jul 2 |
| Okra | Apr 4 | May 9–May 16 | 152 | two-plantings: Plant May 9 and again by Jul 31; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 31 |
| Basil | Mar 28 | May 23–May 23 | 138 | two-plantings: Plant May 23 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 26 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 4–Apr 25 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 26 |
| Parsley | Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | 173 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 173 available after May 9. | Aug 6 |
| Celery | Feb 21 | May 9–May 23 | 173 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 173 available after May 9. | Jun 17 |
| Scallions | Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Nov 12. | Aug 30 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Sep 9; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 9 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 21–Apr 4 | 236 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 21 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Nov 12. | Sep 4 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 4 | Apr 25–May 2 | 187 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 25 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 31 |
| Collards | Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Nov 12. | Aug 30 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 131 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 131 available after May 16. | Jun 17 |
| Chives | Feb 7 | May 9–May 16 | 187 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 187 available after May 9. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 236 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Oregano | Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | 187 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 187 available after May 9. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 7 | May 9–May 16 | 173 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 173 available after May 9. | — |
| Sage | Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | 187 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 187 available after May 9. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | 187 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 187 available after May 9. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 21 | Apr 18–May 2 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 18 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 26 |
| Cosmos | Apr 4 | May 2–May 16 | 159 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 26 |
| Lavender | Feb 7 | May 2–May 16 | 194 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 194 available after May 2. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 21 | May 2–May 9 | 159 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 8. | Aug 5 |
| Melons | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 131 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 131 available after May 16. | Jun 17 |
| Mint | — | May 2–May 16 | 194 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 194 available after May 2. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 4 | May 2–May 9 | 159 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 31; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 31 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 9–May 23 | 152 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 152 available after May 9. | Jul 21 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 138 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 138 available after May 16. | Jun 19 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 2–May 16 | 159 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 159 available after May 2. | Jul 16 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | 138 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 138 available after May 9. | Jun 27 |
| Watermelon | Apr 18 | May 9–May 16 | 138 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 138 available after May 9. | Jun 22 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 145 | two-plantings: Plant May 16 and again by Jul 31; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 31 |
| Zinnias | Apr 4 | May 2–May 16 | 159 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 8. | Jul 26 |
Month by month in Dunkirk
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 7), Lavender (Feb 7), Onion (Feb 7), Rosemary (Feb 7), Celery (Feb 21), Collards (Feb 21), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 7), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 7), Cabbage (Mar 7), Lettuce (Mar 7), Sage (Mar 7), Swiss Chard (Mar 7), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 7), Beets (Mar 7), Dill (Mar 7), Peas (Mar 7), Radish (Mar 7), Spinach (Mar 7), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 28). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 4), Corn (Apr 4), Cosmos (Apr 4), Nasturtiums (Apr 4), Okra (Apr 4), Zinnias (Apr 4), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 4), Turnip (Apr 4), Carrots (Apr 11), Potatoes (Apr 18). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 4), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 4), Cabbage (Apr 4), Collards (Apr 4), Kale (Apr 4), Lettuce (Apr 4), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 2), Beans (May 9), Pole Beans (May 9). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 2), Lavender (May 2), Marigolds (May 2), Mint (May 2), Nasturtiums (May 2), Zinnias (May 2), +23 more. Last frost around May 2. |
| June | Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (Jun 9), Pumpkin (Jun 9), Cantaloupe (Jun 17), Celery (Jun 17), Melons (Jun 17), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 19), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Eggplant (Jul 2), Corn (Jul 4), Sunflowers (Jul 16), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 21), Pole Beans (Jul 21), Basil (Jul 26), +8 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cauliflower (Aug 1), Beans (Aug 2), Marigolds (Aug 5), Parsley (Aug 6), Peas (Aug 11), Cabbage (Aug 20), +10 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Kale (Sep 4), Kohlrabi (Sep 4), Turnip (Sep 9), Arugula (Sep 19), Spinach (Sep 19), Radish (Sep 20). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 22). First frost around October 22. |
| November | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 12). |
| 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 Dunkirk, NY (ZIP 14048)?
The median last spring frost date for Dunkirk, NY (ZIP code 14048) is around May 2. 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 20; one in ten it runs past May 14.
What is the first fall frost date in Dunkirk, NY?
The median first fall frost date for Dunkirk, NY is around October 22. 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 October 8 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Dunkirk, NY?
The frost-free growing season in Dunkirk is about 173 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 Dunkirk (173 frost-free days, a moderate season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Dunkirk, NY?
Dunkirk, NY is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (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 Dunkirk, NY?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 28 and plant out May 16 in Dunkirk. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Dunkirk?
Two: plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 29.
When do I plant garlic in Dunkirk?
Oct 22 to Nov 12; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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