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Frost dates for Pinkham Notch, NH

NOAA weather station USC00276818 at 2,025 ft elevation. Based on 29 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.

Last spring freeze (32°F)

May 18

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

May 24 30% risk · Jun 1 10% risk

First fall freeze (32°F)

Oct 1

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

Sep 15 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this

Freeze-free season

135 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)Jun 20 / Jun 6 / Jun 1Sep 1 / Sep 19
32°F (freeze)Jun 1 / May 24 / May 18Sep 15 / Oct 1
28°F (hard freeze)May 20 / May 9 / May 4Sep 29 / Oct 12

Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date May 11 and 90% date May 3 (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 USC00276818, 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 10-30%, and after May 31 is 10-30%. Your own spot may differ. See all stations.

UNH Extension says that for central New Hampshire, Memorial Day is a conservative estimate of the last frost date (read 2026-10-17).

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
SpinachMar 1 – Apr 5Set out Apr 12 – May 3Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost.
BroccoliMar 15 – Apr 12Set out Apr 26 – May 10Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
Brussels sproutMar 15 – Apr 12Set out Apr 26 – May 10Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
CabbageMar 15 – Mar 29Set out Apr 26Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KaleMar 15 – Mar 29Set out Apr 26Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KohlrabiMar 15 – Mar 29Set out Apr 26Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LeekFeb 15 – Mar 1Set out Apr 26Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LettuceMar 22 – Apr 5Set out Apr 26 – May 3Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost.
OnionFeb 15 – Mar 1Set out Apr 26Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
Radish—Sow Apr 26 – May 10Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
Turnip—Sow Apr 26 – May 10Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
ParsleyFeb 22 – Mar 8Set out May 3 – May 10Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost.
CauliflowerMar 29 – Apr 12Set out May 10Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost.
Potato—Sow May 10 – May 17Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost.
Swiss chardMar 29 – Apr 12Set out May 10; or sow Apr 26Start 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 May 24Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CeleryMar 1 – Mar 15Set out on/after May 24Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost.
Parsnip—Sow on/after May 24Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CucumberMay 3 – May 17Set out May 31 – Jun 7
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 31 – Jun 7Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost.
TomatoApr 5 – Apr 26Set out May 31 – Jun 7Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost.
BasilApr 12 – Apr 26Set out Jun 7Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
EggplantMar 29 – Apr 19Set out Jun 7 – Jun 14Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost.
MelonMay 10 – May 17Set out Jun 7Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PepperMar 29 – Apr 12Set out Jun 7Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PumpkinMay 10 – May 17Set out Jun 7
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 squashMay 10 – May 17Set out Jun 7
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 squashMay 10 – May 17Set out Jun 7
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.
ZucchiniMay 10 – May 17Set out Jun 7
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 1; there is a 10% chance of one before Sep 15. 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 Sep 19 and 10% date Sep 1. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Oct 12), 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 2,025 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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