Frost Dates for Rochester, NY 14606
Last spring frost May 4 · First fall frost October 10 · 159 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6b
ZIP 14606 has about 25,500 people, one of 25 ZIP codes in Rochester.
Moderate season: 159 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 23–May 15 (22 days). Fall frost risk spans September 27–October 23 (26 days).
Frost probability for 14606
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 15 | May 4 | April 23 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 27 | October 10 | October 23 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at AVON (28.2 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 159-day season in Rochester
In Rochester (159 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 30 | May 18–May 25 | 117 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 117 available after May 18. | Jun 10 |
| Pepper | Mar 23 | May 18–May 25 | 117 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 117 available after May 18. | Jun 15 |
| Lettuce | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 13 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 19 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 201 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 201 available after Apr 13. | Aug 8 |
| Cucumber | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 131 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 131 available after May 18. | Jul 14 |
| Beans | — | May 11–May 25 | 145 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 21 |
| Peas | — | Mar 9–May 18 | 222 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 222 available after Mar 9. | Jul 30 |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 131 | two-plantings: Plant May 18 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 19 |
| Onion | Feb 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 194 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 194 available after Apr 6. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 9–Apr 27 | 236 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 7; both mature before Oct 31. | Sep 7 |
| Kale | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 23; both mature before Oct 31. | Aug 23 |
| Broccoli | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 194 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 194 available after Apr 6. | Jul 15 |
| Cabbage | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 208 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 208 available after Apr 6. | Aug 8 |
| Radish | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 8; both mature before Oct 17. | Sep 8 |
| Beets | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 9 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 180 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 180 available after Apr 20. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 10 | 264 | overwinter: Plant Oct 10 to Oct 31; harvest the following summer. | Oct 31 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 30–May 25 | 215 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 30; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 6 | May 11–May 18 | 131 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 131 available after May 11. | Jun 22 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 20 | May 18–May 18 | 124 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 124 available after May 18. | May 28 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 23 | Apr 27–May 11 | 173 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 173 available after Apr 27. | Jul 20 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 9 | Apr 20–Apr 20 | 180 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 9 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 236 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 7; both mature before Oct 31. | Sep 7 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 208 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 208 available after Apr 6. | Jul 9 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 124 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 124 available after May 18. | May 28 |
| Eggplant | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 117 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 117 available after May 18. | Jun 20 |
| Okra | Apr 6 | May 11–May 18 | 138 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 19 |
| Basil | Mar 30 | May 25–May 25 | 124 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 124 available after May 25. | Jul 14 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 6–Apr 27 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 14 |
| Parsley | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 159 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 159 available after May 11. | Jul 25 |
| Celery | Feb 23 | May 11–May 25 | 159 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 159 available after May 11. | Jun 5 |
| Scallions | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 31. | Aug 18 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 31. | Aug 28 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 23–Apr 6 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 23 and again by Aug 23; both mature before Oct 31. | Aug 23 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 6 | Apr 27–May 4 | 173 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 19 |
| Collards | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 31. | Aug 18 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 117 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 117 available after May 18. | Jun 5 |
| Chives | Feb 9 | May 11–May 18 | 173 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 173 available after May 11. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 9 |
| Oregano | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 173 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 173 available after May 11. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 9 | May 11–May 18 | 159 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 159 available after May 11. | — |
| Sage | Mar 9 | May 11–May 18 | 173 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 173 available after May 11. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 173 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 173 available after May 11. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 23 | Apr 20–May 4 | 180 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 14 |
| Cosmos | Apr 6 | May 4–May 18 | 145 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 14 |
| Lavender | Feb 9 | May 4–May 18 | 180 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 180 available after May 4. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 23 | May 4–May 11 | 145 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 24; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 24 |
| Melons | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 117 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 117 available after May 18. | Jun 5 |
| Mint | — | May 4–May 18 | 180 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 180 available after May 4. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 6 | May 4–May 11 | 145 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 19 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 11–May 25 | 138 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 138 available after May 11. | Jul 9 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 124 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 124 available after May 18. | Jun 7 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 4–May 18 | 145 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 145 available after May 4. | Jul 4 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 9 | May 11–May 18 | 124 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 124 available after May 11. | Jun 15 |
| Watermelon | Apr 20 | May 11–May 18 | 124 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 124 available after May 11. | Jun 10 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 131 | two-plantings: Plant May 18 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 19 |
| Zinnias | Apr 6 | May 4–May 18 | 145 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 14 |
Month by month in Rochester
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 9), Lavender (Feb 9), Onion (Feb 9), Rosemary (Feb 9), Celery (Feb 23), Collards (Feb 23), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 9), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 9), Cabbage (Mar 9), Lettuce (Mar 9), Sage (Mar 9), Swiss Chard (Mar 9), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 9), Beets (Mar 9), Dill (Mar 9), Peas (Mar 9), Radish (Mar 9), Spinach (Mar 9), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 30). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 6), Corn (Apr 6), Cosmos (Apr 6), Nasturtiums (Apr 6), Okra (Apr 6), Zinnias (Apr 6), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 6), Turnip (Apr 6), Carrots (Apr 13), Potatoes (Apr 20). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 6), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 6), Cabbage (Apr 6), Collards (Apr 6), Kale (Apr 6), Lettuce (Apr 6), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 4), Beans (May 11), Pole Beans (May 11). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 4), Lavender (May 4), Marigolds (May 4), Mint (May 4), Nasturtiums (May 4), Zinnias (May 4), +23 more. Last frost around May 4. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 28), Pumpkin (May 28). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 5), Celery (Jun 5), Melons (Jun 5), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 7), Tomato (Jun 10), Watermelon (Jun 10), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 4), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 9), Pole Beans (Jul 9), Basil (Jul 14), Cosmos (Jul 14), Cucumber (Jul 14), +11 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 8), Carrots (Aug 8), Beets (Aug 9), Dill (Aug 9), Swiss Chard (Aug 9), Calendula (Aug 14), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 7), Spinach (Sep 7), Radish (Sep 8). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 10). First frost around October 10. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 31). |
| 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 Rochester, NY (ZIP 14606)?
The median last spring frost date for Rochester, NY (ZIP code 14606) is around May 4. 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 23; one in ten it runs past May 15.
What is the first fall frost date in Rochester, NY?
The median first fall frost date for Rochester, NY is around October 10. 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 27 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Rochester, NY?
The frost-free growing season in Rochester is about 159 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 Rochester (159 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Rochester, NY?
Rochester, NY is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (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 Rochester, NY?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 30 and plant out May 18 in Rochester. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Rochester?
Two: plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 17.
When do I plant garlic in Rochester?
Oct 10 to Oct 31; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Nearby and related
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