Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Grand Island

United States

In Grand Island the last spring frost usually comes around 19 April and the first autumn frost around 27 October, which leaves about 191 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 30 April to 7 July.

Last spring frostaround 19 April
First autumn frostaround 27 October
Frost-free days191 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 Grand Island?

The last frost in Grand Island usually comes around 19 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 29 March, while corn waits until 26 April. The first autumn frost follows around 27 October, about 191 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha24 February – 19 July5 April – 28 August26 April – 28 August
Ageratumfrom 12 February—from 30 April
Arugula——sow 29 March – 22 September
Basil20 March – 25 August27 April – 2 October18 May – 2 October
Beet——sow 29 March – 28 August
Bell Pepper26 February – 8 May27 April – 7 July18 May – 7 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 2 February—from 26 April
Bok Choy1 March – 5 September5 April – 10 October26 April – 10 October
Borage——sow 26 April – 2 September
Broad bean——sow 29 March – 19 July
Broccoli——sow 29 March – 12 July
Brussels Sprouts22 January – 9 June8 March – 24 July29 March – 24 July
Busy Lizziefrom 1 February—from 26 April
Cabbage——sow 29 March – 19 June
Calendula——sow from 29 March
Carrot——sow 29 March – 4 August
Cauliflower25 January – 12 July8 March – 23 August29 March – 23 August
Celeriac18 January – 9 May5 April – 25 July26 April – 25 July
Celery18 January – 19 May5 April – 4 August26 April – 4 August
Celosiafrom 2 Marchfrom 16 Aprilfrom 7 May
Chamomile——sow 29 March – 23 August
Chayote7 January – 2 May5 April – 29 July26 April – 29 July
Chickpea——sow 29 March – 9 July
Chicory11 February – 3 August—29 March – 28 August
Chili Pepper26 February – 14 June27 April – 13 August18 May – 13 August
China asterfrom 6 Marchfrom 27 Aprilfrom 18 May
Chives——sow 29 March – 14 August
Cilantro——sow 29 March – 24 August
Corn——sow 26 April – 9 July
Corn poppy——sow from 29 March
Cosmosfrom 2 Marchfrom 16 Aprilfrom 7 May
Cucumber30 March – 15 July27 April – 12 August18 May – 12 August
Daikon——sow 29 March – 21 August
Delphiniumfrom 8 January—from 29 March
Dill——sow 29 March – 3 September
Edging lobeliafrom 1 February—from 26 April
Eggplant26 February – 8 May27 April – 7 July18 May – 7 July
Florence fennel19 February – 19 July5 April – 2 September26 April – 2 September
Foxglovefrom 21 December—from 29 March
Garden sorrel——sow 29 March – 22 August
Green Beans——sow 7 May – 17 July
Hollyhock——sow from 29 March
Hyssop——sow 29 March – 15 July
Kale——sow 29 March – 16 August
Kiwano8 March – 22 July9 April – 23 August30 April – 23 August
Kohlrabi——sow 29 March – 26 August
Leek28 December – 30 April8 March – 9 July29 March – 9 July
Lemon balm——sow 29 March – 18 August
Lettuce——sow 29 March – 31 August
Lisianthusfrom 11 Decemberfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Lovage——sow from 29 March
Luffa16 March – 16 May27 April – 27 June18 May – 27 June
Marigoldfrom 22 Februaryfrom 5 Aprilfrom 26 April
Marjoram26 February – 3 August—18 May – 2 October
Melon30 March – 2 July27 April – 30 July18 May – 30 July
Microgreens——sow 7 May – 13 October
Moringa15 March – 8 August9 May – 2 October30 May – 2 October
Moss rosefrom 8 February—from 26 April
Mustard greens——sow 29 March – 12 September
Napa cabbage3 March – 13 August5 April – 15 September26 April – 15 September
Nasturtiumfrom 26 Februaryfrom 5 Aprilfrom 26 April
Okra16 March – 27 July27 April – 7 September18 May – 7 September
Oregano7 January – 24 July8 March – 22 September29 March – 22 September
Pansyfrom 11 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Parsley——sow 29 March – 12 August
Parsnip——sow 29 March – 1 July
Peanut21 March – 22 June27 April – 29 July18 May – 29 July
Peas——sow 29 March – 14 August
Petuniafrom 23 Februaryfrom 27 Aprilfrom 18 May
Physalis23 February – 19 June9 April – 3 August30 April – 3 August
Pumpkin16 March – 21 May27 April – 2 July18 May – 2 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 5 January—from 29 March
Radish——sow 29 March – 27 September
Sage18 January – 20 July8 March – 7 September29 March – 7 September
Scarlet sagefrom 16 February—from 30 April
Snapdragonfrom 2 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Soybean——sow 18 May – 8 August
Spinach——sow 29 March – 2 September
Stevia19 February – 10 June9 April – 29 July30 April – 29 July
Stock——sow from 29 March
Sunflower——sow from 7 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 29 March
Sweet Corn14 March – 3 August5 April – 25 August26 April – 25 August
Sweet peafrom 25 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Sweet William——sow from 29 March
Swiss Chard——sow 29 March – 28 August
Thyme——sow 29 March – 9 July
Tomato16 February – 16 May9 April – 7 July30 April – 7 July
Turnip——sow 29 March – 30 August
Watercress——sow 29 March – 10 September
Watermelon30 March – 20 June27 April – 18 July18 May – 18 July
Zinniafrom 4 Aprilfrom 9 Mayfrom 30 May
Zucchini6 April – 20 July27 April – 10 August18 May – 10 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.

When the soil warms up in Grand Island

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 11 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C11 March39 days earlier
10 °C9 April10 days earlier
15 °C30 April11 days later
18 °C18 May29 days later

Frost dates near Grand Island

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Wichita (3 April) and latest in Sioux Falls (24 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Lincoln143 km16 April28 October
Omaha206 km16 April26 October
Topeka309 km9 April29 October
Sioux Falls321 km24 April21 October
Wichita370 km3 April30 October

What to grow at home in winter in Grand Island

Frosts in Grand Island usually come from about 27 October to about 19 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 Grand Island by month

Average weather in Grand Island over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (22.7–30.5 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: July (30.5 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-7.5 °C), February (-7 °C) and December (-4.9 °C). About 697 mm of rain falls in a year, on 82 days; May is the wettest month (127 mm) and February the driest (20 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January2.1-7.5255
February4.3-7205
March12.40657
April17.74.8638
May22.711.312713
June29.818.3868
July30.520728
August29.518.9598
September26.915.8576
October18.67.4616
November11.20.7314
December4.8-4.9314

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 27 September
Crocus27 September – 1 December
Daffodil27 September – 1 December
Garlic27 September – 1 December
Grape hyacinthby 27 September
Helleboreby 27 September
Hyacinth27 September – 1 December
Lilyby 27 September
Ornamental onionby 27 September
Peonyby 27 September
Saffronby 27 September
Snowdropby 27 September
Tulip27 September – 1 December
Wild garlicby 27 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).