Frost Dates for Keene, NH 03431
Last spring frost May 13 · First fall frost September 26 · 136 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5b
ZIP 03431 has about 25,100 people.
Moderate season: 136 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 29–May 27 (28 days). Fall frost risk spans September 13–October 7 (24 days).
Frost probability for 03431
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 27 | May 13 | April 29 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 13 | September 26 | October 7 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at KEENE (3.9 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 136-day season in Keene
In Keene (136 frost-free days, a moderate season), 39 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 16 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 8 | May 27–Jun 3 | 94 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 94 available after May 27. | — |
| Pepper | Apr 1 | May 27–Jun 3 | 94 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 94 available after May 27. | Jun 1 |
| Lettuce | Mar 18 | Apr 15–Apr 22 | 171 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 15 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 3. | Aug 5 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 22–Apr 29 | 178 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 178 available after Apr 22. | Jul 25 |
| Cucumber | Apr 22 | May 27–Jun 3 | 108 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 108 available after May 27. | Jun 30 |
| Beans | — | May 20–Jun 3 | 122 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 122 available after May 20. | Jul 7 |
| Peas | — | Mar 18–May 27 | 199 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 199 available after Mar 18. | Jul 16 |
| Zucchini | Apr 29 | May 27–Jun 3 | 108 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 108 available after May 27. | Jul 5 |
| Onion | Feb 18 | Apr 15–Apr 29 | 171 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 171 available after Apr 15. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 18–May 6 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 18 and again by Aug 24; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 24 |
| Kale | Mar 4 | Apr 15–Apr 29 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 15 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 9 |
| Broccoli | Mar 18 | Apr 15–Apr 29 | 171 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 171 available after Apr 15. | Jul 1 |
| Cabbage | Mar 18 | Apr 15–Apr 29 | 185 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 185 available after Apr 15. | Jul 25 |
| Radish | — | Mar 18–Jun 10 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 18 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 3. | Aug 25 |
| Beets | — | Mar 18–Jun 10 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 18 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 26 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 29–May 6 | 157 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 157 available after Apr 29. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 26 | 241 | overwinter: Plant Sep 26 to Oct 17; harvest the following summer. | Oct 17 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 8–Jun 3 | 192 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 8; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 15 | May 20–May 27 | 108 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 108 available after May 20. | Jun 8 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 29 | May 27–May 27 | 101 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 101 available after May 27. | — |
| Cauliflower | Apr 1 | May 6–May 20 | 150 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 150 available after May 6. | Jul 6 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 18 | Apr 29–Apr 29 | 157 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 29 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 26 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 18–Jun 10 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 18 and again by Aug 24; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 24 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 18 | Apr 15–Apr 29 | 185 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 185 available after Apr 15. | Jun 25 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 29 | May 27–Jun 3 | 101 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 101 available after May 27. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 25 | May 27–Jun 3 | 94 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 94 available after May 27. | Jun 6 |
| Okra | Apr 15 | May 20–May 27 | 115 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 115 available after May 20. | Jul 5 |
| Basil | Apr 8 | Jun 3–Jun 3 | 101 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 101 available after Jun 3. | Jun 30 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 15–May 6 | 171 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 15 and again by Jul 31; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 31 |
| Parsley | Mar 4 | May 20–May 27 | 136 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 136 available after May 20. | Jul 11 |
| Celery | Mar 4 | May 20–Jun 3 | 136 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 136 available after May 20. | May 22 |
| Scallions | Mar 4 | Apr 15–Apr 29 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 15 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 4 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 15–Apr 29 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 15 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 14 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Apr 1–Apr 15 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 1 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 9 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 15 | May 6–May 13 | 150 | two-plantings: Plant May 6 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 3. | Aug 5 |
| Collards | Mar 4 | Apr 15–Apr 29 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 15 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 4 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 29 | May 27–Jun 3 | 94 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 94 available after May 27. | — |
| Chives | Feb 18 | May 20–May 27 | 150 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 150 available after May 20. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 18–Jun 10 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 18 and again by Jul 26; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 26 |
| Oregano | Mar 4 | May 20–May 27 | 150 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 150 available after May 20. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 18 | May 20–May 27 | 136 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 136 available after May 20. | — |
| Sage | Mar 18 | May 20–May 27 | 150 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 150 available after May 20. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 4 | May 20–May 27 | 150 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 150 available after May 20. | — |
| Calendula | Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 | 157 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 29 and again by Jul 31; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 31 |
| Cosmos | Apr 15 | May 13–May 27 | 122 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 122 available after May 13. | Jun 30 |
| Lavender | Feb 18 | May 13–May 27 | 157 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 157 available after May 13. | — |
| Marigolds | Apr 1 | May 13–May 20 | 122 | two-plantings: Plant May 13 and again by Jul 10; both mature before Sep 12. | Jul 10 |
| Melons | Apr 29 | May 27–Jun 3 | 94 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 94 available after May 27. | — |
| Mint | — | May 13–May 27 | 157 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 157 available after May 13. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 15 | May 13–May 20 | 122 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 122 available after May 13. | Jul 5 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 20–Jun 3 | 115 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 115 available after May 20. | Jun 25 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 29 | May 27–Jun 3 | 101 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 101 available after May 27. | — |
| Sunflowers | — | May 13–May 27 | 122 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 122 available after May 13. | Jun 20 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 18 | May 20–May 27 | 101 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 101 available after May 20. | Jun 1 |
| Watermelon | Apr 29 | May 20–May 27 | 101 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 101 available after May 20. | May 27 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 29 | May 27–Jun 3 | 108 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 108 available after May 27. | Jul 5 |
| Zinnias | Apr 15 | May 13–May 27 | 122 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 122 available after May 13. | Jun 30 |
Month by month in Keene
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 18), Lavender (Feb 18), Onion (Feb 18), Rosemary (Feb 18). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 4), Collards (Mar 4), Kale (Mar 4), Oregano (Mar 4), Parsley (Mar 4), Scallions (Mar 4), +9 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 18), Beets (Mar 18), Dill (Mar 18), Peas (Mar 18), Radish (Mar 18), Spinach (Mar 18). |
| April | Start indoors: Calendula (Apr 1), Cauliflower (Apr 1), Marigolds (Apr 1), Pepper (Apr 1), Basil (Apr 8), Tomato (Apr 8), +15 more. Direct sow from: Kohlrabi (Apr 1), Cilantro (Apr 15), Turnip (Apr 15), Carrots (Apr 22), Potatoes (Apr 29). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 15), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 15), Cabbage (Apr 15), Collards (Apr 15), Kale (Apr 15), Lettuce (Apr 15), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 8). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 13), Beans (May 20), Pole Beans (May 20). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 6), Cauliflower (May 6), Cosmos (May 13), Lavender (May 13), Marigolds (May 13), Mint (May 13), +24 more. Last frost around May 13. Last sowing dates: Celery (May 22), Watermelon (May 27). |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 3). Last sowing dates: Pepper (Jun 1), Tomatillos (Jun 1), Eggplant (Jun 6), Corn (Jun 8), Sunflowers (Jun 20), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 25), +5 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Broccoli (Jul 1), Nasturtiums (Jul 5), Okra (Jul 5), Yellow Squash (Jul 5), Zucchini (Jul 5), Cauliflower (Jul 6), +11 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Collards (Aug 4), Scallions (Aug 4), Bok Choy (Aug 5), Lettuce (Aug 5), Kale (Aug 9), Kohlrabi (Aug 9), +4 more. |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 26). First frost around September 26. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 17). |
| November | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
| 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 Keene, NH (ZIP 03431)?
The median last spring frost date for Keene, NH (ZIP code 03431) is around May 13. 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 29; one in ten it runs past May 27.
What is the first fall frost date in Keene, NH?
The median first fall frost date for Keene, NH is around September 26. 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 Keene, NH?
The frost-free growing season in Keene is about 136 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 Keene (136 frost-free days, a moderate season), 39 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 16 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Keene, NH?
Keene, NH 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 Keene, NH?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 8 and plant out May 27 in Keene. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Keene?
Two: plant Apr 15 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 3.
When do I plant garlic in Keene?
Sep 26 to Oct 17; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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