Frost dates for Rochester, VT
NOAA weather station USC00436893 at 830 ft elevation. Based on 27 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.
Last spring freeze (32°F)
May 13
median: freeze still happened after this date in half of years
May 21 30% risk · May 29 10% risk
First fall freeze (32°F)
Oct 2
median: a freeze had happened by this date in half of years
Sep 19 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this
Freeze-free season
141 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
| Threshold | Spring: latest-freeze date at risk of 10% / 30% / 50% | Fall: first-freeze date at chance of 10% / 50% |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (frost possible) | Jun 10 / Jun 2 / May 29 | Sep 10 / Sep 23 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 29 / May 21 / May 13 | Sep 19 / Oct 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 15 / May 6 / Apr 30 | Oct 1 / Oct 13 |
Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date May 7 and 90% date Apr 30 (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 USC00436893, 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 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.
Showing the schedule for the 2027 season (dates repeat yearly). Table below defaults to Typical; it updates when you choose.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Outdoors | UNH Extension rule used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spinach | Feb 26 – Apr 2 | Set out Apr 9 – Apr 30 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost. |
| Broccoli | Mar 12 – Apr 9 | Set out Apr 23 – May 7 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Brussels sprout | Mar 12 – Apr 9 | Set out Apr 23 – May 7 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Set out Apr 23 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kale | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Set out Apr 23 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Set out Apr 23 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Leek | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Set out Apr 23 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Lettuce | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Set out Apr 23 – Apr 30 | Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost. |
| Onion | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Set out Apr 23 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Radish | — | Sow Apr 23 – May 7 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Turnip | — | Sow Apr 23 – May 7 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Parsley | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Set out Apr 30 – May 7 | Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost. |
| Cauliflower | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Set out May 7 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost. |
| Potato | — | Sow May 7 – May 14 | Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost. |
| Swiss chard | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Set out May 7; or sow Apr 23 | Start 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 21 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Celery | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Set out on/after May 21 | Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost. |
| Parsnip | — | Sow on/after May 21 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Cucumber | Apr 30 – May 14 | Set out May 28 – Jun 4 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 28 – Jun 4 | Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Tomato | Apr 2 – Apr 23 | Set out May 28 – Jun 4 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Basil | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | Set out Jun 4 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | Set out Jun 4 – Jun 11 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost. |
| Melon | May 7 – May 14 | Set out Jun 4 | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pepper | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Set out Jun 4 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pumpkin | May 7 – May 14 | Set out Jun 4 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 squash | May 7 – May 14 | Set out Jun 4 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 squash | May 7 – May 14 | Set out Jun 4 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. |
| Zucchini | May 7 – May 14 | Set out Jun 4 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 15 | Sow 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 thaws | Sow seed in garden as soon as soil thaws. |
Fall: when the garden ends
At this station the median first 32°F freeze is Oct 2; there is a 10% chance of one before Sep 19. 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 23 and 10% date Sep 10. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Oct 13), 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 830 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.
Nearby stations
- Salisbury 2 N, VT: 15 mi away, 420 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 21
- S Lincoln, VT: 17 mi away, 1,341 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 21
- Rutland, VT: 18 mi away, 620 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 15
- Chelsea 2 NW, VT: 19 mi away, 1,440 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 9
- Cornwall, VT: 21 mi away, 345 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 5