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Frost dates for Providence T F Green AP, RI

NOAA weather station USW00014765 at 60 ft elevation. Based on 30 years within 1991-2020. Last verified 2026-10-17.

Last spring freeze (32°F)

Apr 11

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

Apr 17 30% risk · Apr 23 10% risk

First fall freeze (32°F)

Oct 30

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

Oct 16 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this

Freeze-free season

199 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 7 / Apr 30 / Apr 26Oct 5 / Oct 18
32°F (freeze)Apr 23 / Apr 17 / Apr 11Oct 16 / Oct 30
28°F (hard freeze)Apr 11 / Apr 4 / Apr 1Oct 29 / Nov 9

Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date Apr 7 and 90% date Apr 1 (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 USW00014765, 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 23 – Feb 27Set out Mar 6 – Mar 27Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost.
BroccoliFeb 6 – Mar 6Set out Mar 20 – Apr 3Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
Brussels sproutFeb 6 – Mar 6Set out Mar 20 – Apr 3Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost.
CabbageFeb 6 – Feb 20Set out Mar 20Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KaleFeb 6 – Feb 20Set out Mar 20Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
KohlrabiFeb 6 – Feb 20Set out Mar 20Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LeekJan 9 – Jan 23Set out Mar 20Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
LettuceFeb 13 – Feb 27Set out Mar 20 – Mar 27Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost.
OnionJan 9 – Jan 23Set out Mar 20Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost.
Radish—Sow Mar 20 – Apr 3Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
Turnip—Sow Mar 20 – Apr 3Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost.
ParsleyJan 16 – Jan 30Set out Mar 27 – Apr 3Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost.
CauliflowerFeb 20 – Mar 6Set out Apr 3Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost.
Potato—Sow Apr 3 – Apr 10Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost.
Swiss chardFeb 20 – Mar 6Set out Apr 3; or sow Mar 20Start 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 17Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CeleryJan 23 – Feb 6Set out on/after Apr 17Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost.
Parsnip—Sow on/after Apr 17Sow seed in garden after last frost.
CucumberMar 27 – Apr 10Set out Apr 24 – May 1
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 Apr 24 – May 1Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost.
TomatoFeb 27 – Mar 20Set out Apr 24 – May 1Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost.
BasilMar 6 – Mar 20Set out May 1Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
EggplantFeb 20 – Mar 13Set out May 1 – May 8Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost.
MelonApr 3 – Apr 10Set out May 1Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PepperFeb 20 – Mar 6Set out May 1Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost.
PumpkinApr 3 – Apr 10Set out May 1
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 3 – Apr 10Set out May 1
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 3 – Apr 10Set out May 1
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 3 – Apr 10Set out May 1
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 30; there is a 10% chance of one before Oct 16. 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 18 and 10% date Oct 5. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Nov 9), 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 60 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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