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Last and first frost dates in Albany

United States

In Albany the last spring frost usually comes around 17 April and the first autumn frost around 6 November, which leaves about 203 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 19 May to 17 July.

Last spring frostaround 17 April
First autumn frostaround 6 November
Frost-free days203 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 6a

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Albany?

The last frost in Albany usually comes around 17 April: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 27 March, while corn waits until 30 April. The first autumn frost follows around 6 November, about 203 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha22 February – 29 July3 April – 7 September24 April – 7 September
Ageratumfrom 3 March—from 19 May
Arugula——sow 27 March – 2 October
Basil1 April – 4 September9 May – 12 October30 May – 12 October
Beet——sow 27 March – 7 September
Bell Pepper10 March – 18 May9 May – 17 July30 May – 17 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 31 January—from 24 April
Bok Choy27 February – 15 September3 April – 20 October24 April – 20 October
Borage——sow 24 April – 12 September
Broad bean——sow 27 March – 29 July
Broccoli——sow 27 March – 22 July
Brussels Sprouts20 January – 19 June6 March – 3 August27 March – 3 August
Busy Lizziefrom 30 January—from 24 April
Cabbage——sow 27 March – 29 June
Calendula——sow from 27 March
Carrot——sow 27 March – 14 August
Cauliflower23 January – 22 July6 March – 2 September27 March – 2 September
Celeriac16 January – 19 May3 April – 4 August24 April – 4 August
Celery16 January – 29 May3 April – 14 August24 April – 14 August
Celosiafrom 19 Marchfrom 3 Mayfrom 24 May
Chamomile——sow 27 March – 2 September
Chayote11 January – 12 May9 April – 8 August30 April – 8 August
Chickpea——sow 27 March – 19 July
Chicory9 February – 13 August—27 March – 7 September
Chili Pepper10 March – 24 June9 May – 23 August30 May – 23 August
China asterfrom 18 Marchfrom 9 Mayfrom 30 May
Chives——sow 27 March – 24 August
Cilantro——sow 27 March – 3 September
Corn——sow 30 April – 19 July
Corn poppy——sow from 27 March
Cosmosfrom 19 Marchfrom 3 Mayfrom 24 May
Cucumber11 April – 25 July9 May – 22 August30 May – 22 August
Daikon——sow 27 March – 31 August
Delphiniumfrom 6 January—from 27 March
Dill——sow 27 March – 13 September
Edging lobeliafrom 30 January—from 24 April
Eggplant10 March – 18 May9 May – 17 July30 May – 17 July
Florence fennel17 February – 29 July3 April – 12 September24 April – 12 September
Foxglovefrom 19 December—from 27 March
Garden sorrel——sow 27 March – 1 September
Green Beans——sow 24 May – 27 July
Hollyhock——sow from 27 March
Hyssop——sow 27 March – 25 July
Kale——sow 27 March – 26 August
Kiwano27 March – 1 August28 April – 2 September19 May – 2 September
Kohlrabi——sow 27 March – 5 September
Leek26 December – 10 May6 March – 19 July27 March – 19 July
Lemon balm——sow 27 March – 28 August
Lettuce——sow 27 March – 10 September
Lisianthusfrom 9 Decemberfrom 6 Marchfrom 27 March
Lovage——sow from 27 March
Luffa28 March – 26 May9 May – 7 July30 May – 7 July
Marigoldfrom 20 Februaryfrom 3 Aprilfrom 24 April
Marjoram10 March – 13 August—30 May – 12 October
Melon11 April – 12 July9 May – 9 August30 May – 9 August
Microgreens——sow 24 May – 23 October
Moringa22 March – 18 August16 May – 12 October6 June – 12 October
Moss rosefrom 6 February—from 24 April
Mustard greens——sow 27 March – 22 September
Napa cabbage1 March – 23 August3 April – 25 September24 April – 25 September
Nasturtiumfrom 24 Februaryfrom 3 Aprilfrom 24 April
Okra28 March – 6 August9 May – 17 September30 May – 17 September
Oregano5 January – 3 August6 March – 2 October27 March – 2 October
Pansyfrom 9 Januaryfrom 6 Marchfrom 27 March
Parsley——sow 27 March – 22 August
Parsnip——sow 27 March – 11 July
Peanut2 April – 2 July9 May – 8 August30 May – 8 August
Peas——sow 27 March – 24 August
Petuniafrom 7 Marchfrom 9 Mayfrom 30 May
Physalis14 March – 29 June28 April – 13 August19 May – 13 August
Pumpkin28 March – 31 May9 May – 12 July30 May – 12 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 3 January—from 27 March
Radish——sow 27 March – 7 October
Sage16 January – 30 July6 March – 17 September27 March – 17 September
Scarlet sagefrom 7 March—from 19 May
Snapdragonfrom 31 Decemberfrom 6 Marchfrom 27 March
Soybean——sow 30 May – 18 August
Spinach——sow 27 March – 12 September
Stevia10 March – 20 June28 April – 8 August19 May – 8 August
Stock——sow from 27 March
Sunflower——sow from 24 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 27 March
Sweet Corn23 March – 13 August14 April – 4 September5 May – 4 September
Sweet peafrom 23 Januaryfrom 6 Marchfrom 27 March
Sweet William——sow from 27 March
Swiss Chard——sow 27 March – 7 September
Thyme——sow 27 March – 19 July
Tomato7 March – 26 May28 April – 17 July19 May – 17 July
Turnip——sow 27 March – 9 September
Watercress——sow 27 March – 20 September
Watermelon11 April – 30 June9 May – 28 July30 May – 28 July
Zinniafrom 11 Aprilfrom 16 Mayfrom 6 June
Zucchini18 April – 30 July9 May – 20 August30 May – 20 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

What planting zone is Albany?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Albany (ZIP 12210) in zone 6a. Zone 6a stands for an average coldest night of -10 to -5 °F (-23.3 to -20.6 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 6a or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for Albany: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Albany

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 1 day after the last spring frost and 15 °C 32 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C18 March30 days earlier
10 °C18 April1 day later
15 °C19 May32 days later
18 °C30 May43 days later

Frost dates near Albany

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in New Haven (6 April) and latest in Manchester (United States) (22 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Hartford133 km13 April8 November
New Haven164 km6 April12 November
Worcester (United States)166 km11 April8 November
Concord191 km22 April31 October
Manchester (United States)191 km22 April2 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Albany

Within 15 km of Albany OpenStreetMap lists 11 garden centres, 7 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Organica, 3 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Albany

Frosts in Albany usually come from about 6 November to about 17 April. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Albany by month

Average weather in Albany over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (21–29 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in December–March (-6.7–-2.4 °C). About 1174 mm of rain falls in a year, on 134 days; July is the wettest month (126 mm) and February the driest (72 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January1.5-6.7759
February3.8-6.17211
March8.4-2.48711
April14.33.411313
May219.79812
June25.814.89212
July2918.512613
August27.417.410412
September23.813.8938
October17.28.112211
November918910
December3.4-4.110312

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 7 October
Crocus7 October – 30 November
Daffodil7 October – 30 November
Garlic7 October – 30 November
Grape hyacinthby 7 October
Helleboreby 7 October
Hyacinth7 October – 30 November
Lilyby 7 October
Ornamental onionby 7 October
Peonyby 7 October
Saffronby 7 October
Snowdropby 7 October
Tulip7 October – 30 November
Wild garlicby 7 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).