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Frost dates for Storrs, CT

NOAA weather station USC00068138 at 665 ft elevation. Based on 26 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.

Last spring freeze (32°F)

Apr 19

median: freeze still happened after this date in half of years

Apr 25 30% risk · May 3 10% risk

First fall freeze (32°F)

Oct 22

median: a freeze had happened by this date in half of years

Oct 6 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this

Freeze-free season

186 days

median length between last spring and first fall 32°F freeze

How to read these dates

Spring: a "10% risk" date means NOAA's 1991-2020 data put the chance of a 32°F or colder night after that date at 10%. The "30% risk" date is the convention used by some popular frost calculators (the Old Farmer's Almanac says it uses a 30% probability threshold, source). Fall: a "10%" date means a 10% chance the first freeze comes before it. Source: NOAA readme.

Full table for this station

ThresholdSpring: latest-freeze date at risk of 10% / 30% / 50%Fall: first-freeze date at chance of 10% / 50%
36°F (frost possible)May 16 / May 8 / May 3Sep 29 / Oct 10
32°F (freeze)May 3 / Apr 25 / Apr 19Oct 6 / Oct 22
28°F (hard freeze)Apr 19 / Apr 11 / Apr 6Oct 19 / Nov 4

Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date Apr 14 and 90% date Apr 7 (frost still likely after these early dates). Data quality: Standard: 24+ years of qualifying data. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00068138, read 2026-10-17.

Is Memorial Day safe here?

Many New England gardeners wait for Memorial Day (it falls between May 25 and May 31). At this station, NOAA's chance of a 32°F or colder night after May 25 is under 10%, and after May 31 is under 10%. Your own spot may differ. See all stations.

Your planting schedule

Pick how cautious you want to be. The dates apply UNH Extension's per-crop rules (UNH fact sheet, read 2026-10-17) to this station's last-freeze date. UNH's sheet does not say which probability its "last frost" means, so you choose. These are planning dates, not instructions; follow your seed packet and the weather.

Last-frost reference date

Showing the schedule for the 2027 season (dates repeat yearly). Table below defaults to Typical; it updates when you choose.

CropStart seeds indoorsOutdoorsUNH Extension rule used
SpinachJan 31 – Mar 7Set out Mar 14 – Apr 4Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost.
BroccoliFeb 14 – Mar 14Set out Mar 28 – Apr 11Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
Brussels sproutFeb 14 – Mar 14Set out Mar 28 – Apr 11Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
CabbageFeb 14 – Feb 28Set out Mar 28Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KaleFeb 14 – Feb 28Set out Mar 28Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KohlrabiFeb 14 – Feb 28Set out Mar 28Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LeekJan 17 – Jan 31Set out Mar 28Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LettuceFeb 21 – Mar 7Set out Mar 28 – Apr 4Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost.
OnionJan 17 – Jan 31Set out Mar 28Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
Radish—Sow Mar 28 – Apr 11Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
Turnip—Sow Mar 28 – Apr 11Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
ParsleyJan 24 – Feb 7Set out Apr 4 – Apr 11Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost.
CauliflowerFeb 28 – Mar 14Set out Apr 11Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost.
Potato—Sow Apr 11 – Apr 18Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost.
Swiss chardFeb 28 – Mar 14Set out Apr 11; or sow Mar 28Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost; or sow seed 4 wk before last frost.
Bean—Sow on/after Apr 25Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CeleryJan 31 – Feb 14Set out on/after Apr 25Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost.
Parsnip—Sow on/after Apr 25Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CucumberApr 4 – Apr 18Set out May 2 – May 9
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Sweet potato—Plant slips May 2 – May 9Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost.
TomatoMar 7 – Mar 28Set out May 2 – May 9Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost.
BasilMar 14 – Mar 28Set out May 9Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
EggplantFeb 28 – Mar 21Set out May 9 – May 16Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost.
MelonApr 11 – Apr 18Set out May 9Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PepperFeb 28 – Mar 14Set out May 9Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PumpkinApr 11 – Apr 18Set out May 9
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Summer squashApr 11 – Apr 18Set out May 9
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Winter squashApr 11 – Apr 18Set out May 9
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
ZucchiniApr 11 – Apr 18Set out May 9
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F		Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost; or sow when soil warms to 70°F.
Rutabaga—Sow Jun 15 – Jul 15Sow seed in garden mid-June to mid-July (fixed dates, not tied to frost).
Beet—Sow when soil reaches 45°F (use a soil thermometer)Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 45°F.
Carrot—Sow when soil reaches 60°F (use a soil thermometer)Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 60°F.
Corn—Sow when soil reaches 60°F (use a soil thermometer)Sow seed in garden when soil warms to 60°F.
Pea—Sow as soon as soil thawsSow seed in garden as soon as soil thaws.

Fall: when the garden ends

At this station the median first 32°F freeze is Oct 22; there is a 10% chance of one before Oct 6. Tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) can be damaged at 33-36°F (Almanac.com notes some plants are damaged in that range); the 36°F first-frost date here is median Oct 10 and 10% date Sep 29. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Nov 4), and that row covers can extend the season. UNH: Fall vegetable gardening, read 2026-10-17.

Your garden is not the weather station

This station sits at 665 ft. UNH Extension says first-freeze dates vary "even between relatively close locations, based on factors such as elevation" (source), and notes that gardeners who keep garden journals can use their own records. Gardeners on Reddit describe the same thing: elevation and cold spots change when they can plant (for example r/vermont). Treat these dates as a starting point.

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