Frost dates for Northfield, VT
NOAA weather station USC00435733 at 670 ft elevation. Based on 19 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 23 30% risk · May 30 10% risk
First fall freeze (32°F)
Sep 28
median: a freeze had happened by this date in half of years
Sep 13 10% chance of a freeze earlier than this
Freeze-free season
133 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 12 / Jun 3 / May 29 | Sep 2 / Sep 17 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 30 / May 23 / May 18 | Sep 13 / Sep 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 20 / May 11 / May 4 | Sep 25 / Oct 7 |
Also at 32°F, last-freeze 70% date May 10 and 90% date May 2 (frost still likely after these early dates). Data quality: Representative: 10+ years of qualifying data, missing months filled from nearby stations. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00435733, 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 28 – Apr 4 | Set out Apr 11 – May 2 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 3-6 wk before last frost. |
| Broccoli | Mar 14 – Apr 11 | Set out Apr 25 – May 9 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Brussels sprout | Mar 14 – Apr 11 | Set out Apr 25 – May 9 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Set out Apr 25 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kale | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Set out Apr 25 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | Set out Apr 25 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Leek | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Set out Apr 25 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Lettuce | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Set out Apr 25 – May 2 | Start 4-5 wk before set-out; set out 3-4 wk before last frost. |
| Onion | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Set out Apr 25 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 4 wk before last frost. |
| Radish | — | Sow Apr 25 – May 9 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Turnip | — | Sow Apr 25 – May 9 | Sow seed in garden 2-4 wk before last frost. |
| Parsley | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Set out May 2 – May 9 | Start 9-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk before last frost. |
| Cauliflower | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | Set out May 9 | Start 4-6 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk before last frost. |
| Potato | — | Sow May 9 – May 16 | Plant seed potatoes 1-2 wk before last frost. |
| Swiss chard | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | Set out May 9; or sow Apr 25 | 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 23 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Celery | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Set out on/after May 23 | Start 10-12 wk before set-out; set out after last frost. |
| Parsnip | — | Sow on/after May 23 | Sow seed in garden after last frost. |
| Cucumber | May 2 – May 16 | Set out May 30 – Jun 6 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 30 – Jun 6 | Plant slips (young plants) 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Tomato | Apr 4 – Apr 25 | Set out May 30 – Jun 6 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 1-2 wk after last frost. |
| Basil | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Set out Jun 6 | Start 6-8 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Mar 28 – Apr 18 | Set out Jun 6 – Jun 13 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2-3 wk after last frost. |
| Melon | May 9 – May 16 | Set out Jun 6 | Start 3-4 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pepper | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | Set out Jun 6 | Start 8-10 wk before set-out; set out 2 wk after last frost. |
| Pumpkin | May 9 – May 16 | Set out Jun 6 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 9 – May 16 | Set out Jun 6 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 9 – May 16 | Set out Jun 6 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 9 – May 16 | Set out Jun 6 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 Sep 28; there is a 10% chance of one before Sep 13. 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 17 and 10% date Sep 2. UNH Extension notes many fall vegetables tolerate mild frosts down to about 28°F (median first 28°F here: Oct 7), 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 670 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
- Barre Montpelier AP, VT: 5 mi away, 1,126 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 16
- Montpelier 2, VT: 7 mi away, 530 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 5
- Chelsea 2 NW, VT: 14 mi away, 1,440 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 9
- Plainfield, VT: 14 mi away, 800 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 25
- Worcester 2 W, VT: 15 mi away, 1,360 ft elevation, median last 32°F freeze May 4