Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Elko

United States

In Elko the last spring frost usually comes around 6 May and the first autumn frost around 13 October, which leaves about 160 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 15 May to 23 June.

Last spring frostaround 6 May
First autumn frostaround 13 October
Frost-free days160 days

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 Elko?

The last frost in Elko usually comes around 6 May: 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 15 April, while corn waits until 13 May. The first autumn frost follows around 13 October, about 160 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha13 March – 5 July22 April – 14 August13 May – 14 August
Ageratumfrom 27 February—from 15 May
Arugula——sow 15 April – 8 September
Basil22 March – 11 August29 April – 18 September20 May – 18 September
Beet——sow 15 April – 14 August
Bell Pepper28 February – 24 April29 April – 23 June20 May – 23 June
Black-eyed Susanfrom 19 February—from 13 May
Bok Choy18 March – 22 August22 April – 26 September13 May – 26 September
Borage——sow 13 May – 19 August
Broad bean——sow 15 April – 5 July
Broccoli——sow 15 April – 28 June
Brussels Sprouts8 February – 26 May25 March – 10 July15 April – 10 July
Busy Lizziefrom 18 February—from 13 May
Cabbage——sow 15 April – 5 June
Calendula——sow from 15 April
Carrot——sow 15 April – 21 July
Cauliflower11 February – 28 June25 March – 9 August15 April – 9 August
Celeriac4 February – 25 April22 April – 11 July13 May – 11 July
Celery4 February – 5 May22 April – 21 July13 May – 21 July
Celosiafrom 13 Marchfrom 27 Aprilfrom 18 May
Chamomile——sow 15 April – 9 August
Chayote24 January – 18 April22 April – 15 July13 May – 15 July
Chickpea——sow 15 April – 25 June
Chicory28 February – 20 July—15 April – 14 August
Chili Pepper28 February – 31 May29 April – 30 July20 May – 30 July
China asterfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 Aprilfrom 20 May
Chives——sow 15 April – 31 July
Cilantro——sow 15 April – 10 August
Corn——sow 13 May – 25 June
Corn poppy——sow from 15 April
Cosmosfrom 13 Marchfrom 27 Aprilfrom 18 May
Cucumber1 April – 1 July29 April – 29 July20 May – 29 July
Daikon——sow 15 April – 7 August
Delphiniumfrom 25 January—from 15 April
Dill——sow 15 April – 20 August
Edging lobeliafrom 18 February—from 13 May
Eggplant28 February – 24 April29 April – 23 June20 May – 23 June
Florence fennel8 March – 5 July22 April – 19 August13 May – 19 August
Foxglovefrom 7 January—from 15 April
Garden sorrel——sow 15 April – 8 August
Green Beans——sow 18 May – 3 July
Hollyhock——sow from 15 April
Hyssop——sow 15 April – 1 July
Kale——sow 15 April – 2 August
Kiwano23 March – 8 July24 April – 9 August15 May – 9 August
Kohlrabi——sow 15 April – 12 August
Leek14 January – 16 April25 March – 25 June15 April – 25 June
Lemon balm——sow 15 April – 4 August
Lettuce——sow 15 April – 17 August
Lisianthusfrom 28 Decemberfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Lovage——sow from 15 April
Luffa18 March – 2 May29 April – 13 June20 May – 13 June
Marigoldfrom 11 Marchfrom 22 Aprilfrom 13 May
Marjoram28 February – 20 July—20 May – 18 September
Melon1 April – 18 June29 April – 16 July20 May – 16 July
Microgreens——sow 18 May – 29 September
Moringa14 March – 25 July8 May – 18 September29 May – 18 September
Moss rosefrom 25 February—from 13 May
Mustard greens——sow 15 April – 29 August
Napa cabbage20 March – 30 July22 April – 1 September13 May – 1 September
Nasturtiumfrom 15 Marchfrom 22 Aprilfrom 13 May
Okra18 March – 13 July29 April – 24 August20 May – 24 August
Oregano24 January – 10 July25 March – 8 September15 April – 8 September
Pansyfrom 28 Januaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Parsley——sow 15 April – 29 July
Parsnip——sow 15 April – 17 June
Peanut23 March – 8 June29 April – 15 July20 May – 15 July
Peas——sow 15 April – 31 July
Petuniafrom 25 Februaryfrom 29 Aprilfrom 20 May
Physalis10 March – 5 June24 April – 20 July15 May – 20 July
Pumpkin18 March – 7 May29 April – 18 June20 May – 18 June
Purple coneflowerfrom 22 January—from 15 April
Radish——sow 15 April – 13 September
Sage4 February – 6 July25 March – 24 August15 April – 24 August
Scarlet sagefrom 3 March—from 15 May
Snapdragonfrom 19 Januaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Soybean——sow 20 May – 25 July
Spinach——sow 15 April – 19 August
Stevia6 March – 27 May24 April – 15 July15 May – 15 July
Stock——sow from 15 April
Sunflower——sow from 18 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 15 April
Sweet Corn31 March – 20 July22 April – 11 August13 May – 11 August
Sweet peafrom 11 Februaryfrom 25 Marchfrom 15 April
Sweet William——sow from 15 April
Swiss Chard——sow 15 April – 14 August
Thyme——sow 15 April – 25 June
Tomato3 March – 2 May24 April – 23 June15 May – 23 June
Turnip——sow 15 April – 16 August
Watercress——sow 15 April – 27 August
Watermelon1 April – 6 June29 April – 4 July20 May – 4 July
Zinniafrom 3 Aprilfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 May
Zucchini8 April – 6 July29 April – 27 July20 May – 27 July

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.

When the soil warms up in Elko

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 10 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 9 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C6 April30 days earlier
10 °C26 April10 days earlier
15 °C15 May9 days later
18 °C20 May14 days later

Frost dates near Elko

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Provo (6 April) and latest in Carson City (1 May).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Boise310 km15 April27 October
Salt Lake City324 km24 April26 October
Provo351 km6 April7 November
Reno375 km16 April28 October
Carson City391 km1 May22 October

What to grow at home in winter in Elko

Frosts in Elko usually come from about 13 October to about 6 May. 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 Elko by month

Average weather in Elko over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (24.9–32.1 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: July (32.1 °C) and August (30.4 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in November–March (-9.1–-2.4 °C). About 346 mm of rain falls in a year, on 72 days; March is the wettest month (55 mm) and July the driest (4 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January-0.4-9.1419
February1.8-7.8379
March6.8-3.95510
April13.70.7368
May18.95.8388
June2712.2112
July32.117.441
August30.416.1113
September24.910.8223
October16.33.5254
November7.9-2.4246
December1.1-7.6429

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 13 September
Crocus13 September – 15 November
Daffodil13 September – 15 November
Garlic13 September – 15 November
Grape hyacinthby 13 September
Helleboreby 13 September
Hyacinth13 September – 15 November
Lilyby 13 September
Ornamental onionby 13 September
Peonyby 13 September
Saffronby 13 September
Snowdropby 13 September
Tulip13 September – 15 November
Wild garlicby 13 September

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).