New York's growing season varies significantly — New York City and Long Island enjoy a relatively long season, while upstate areas and the Adirondacks can see frost into late May.
Most New York gardeners start seeds indoors in March to get a head start. Tomatoes, peppers, and other warm-season crops need that indoor head start to produce before fall frost arrives.
The last frost date is the typical date in spring when your area has its final frost. After this date, it's generally safe to plant warm-season crops outdoors.
Start tomato seeds indoors about 6–8 weeks before your last frost date. For most of New York, that means starting seeds in mid-March to early April.
Yes — cool-season crops like lettuce, peas, spinach, and broccoli can handle light frost and should be planted 4–6 weeks before your last frost date.
New York City is in a much milder zone than the Adirondacks or western NY. Elevation and proximity to the ocean create very different microclimates across the state.
New York doesn't have truly frost-free areas, but NYC and Long Island have milder winters and longer growing seasons than upstate. Enter your zip code for exact timing.
You enter your zip code, and we look up your local frost dates. Then based on the crops you pick, we calculate when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — personalized to your location.