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Last and first frost dates in Ithaca

United States

In Ithaca the last spring frost usually comes around 28 April and the first autumn frost around 8 November, which leaves about 194 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 24 May to 19 July.

Last spring frostaround 28 April
First autumn frostaround 8 November
Frost-free days194 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 Ithaca?

The last frost in Ithaca usually comes around 28 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 7 April, while corn waits until 10 May. The first autumn frost follows around 8 November, about 194 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha5 March – 31 July14 April – 9 September5 May – 9 September
Ageratumfrom 8 March—from 24 May
Arugula——sow 7 April – 4 October
Basil2 April – 6 September10 May – 14 October31 May – 14 October
Beet——sow 7 April – 9 September
Bell Pepper11 March – 20 May10 May – 19 July31 May – 19 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 11 February—from 5 May
Bok Choy10 March – 17 September14 April – 22 October5 May – 22 October
Borage——sow 5 May – 14 September
Broad bean——sow 7 April – 31 July
Broccoli——sow 7 April – 24 July
Brussels Sprouts31 January – 21 June17 March – 5 August7 April – 5 August
Busy Lizziefrom 10 February—from 5 May
Cabbage——sow 7 April – 1 July
Calendula——sow from 7 April
Carrot——sow 7 April – 16 August
Cauliflower3 February – 24 July17 March – 4 September7 April – 4 September
Celeriac27 January – 21 May14 April – 6 August5 May – 6 August
Celery27 January – 31 May14 April – 16 August5 May – 16 August
Celosiafrom 24 Marchfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 May
Chamomile——sow 7 April – 4 September
Chayote21 January – 14 May19 April – 10 August10 May – 10 August
Chickpea——sow 7 April – 21 July
Chicory20 February – 15 August—7 April – 9 September
Chili Pepper11 March – 26 June10 May – 25 August31 May – 25 August
China asterfrom 19 Marchfrom 10 Mayfrom 31 May
Chives——sow 7 April – 26 August
Cilantro——sow 7 April – 5 September
Corn——sow 10 May – 21 July
Corn poppy——sow from 7 April
Cosmosfrom 24 Marchfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 May
Cucumber12 April – 27 July10 May – 24 August31 May – 24 August
Daikon——sow 7 April – 2 September
Delphiniumfrom 17 January—from 7 April
Dill——sow 7 April – 15 September
Edging lobeliafrom 10 February—from 5 May
Eggplant11 March – 20 May10 May – 19 July31 May – 19 July
Florence fennel28 February – 31 July14 April – 14 September5 May – 14 September
Foxglovefrom 30 December—from 7 April
Garden sorrel——sow 7 April – 3 September
Green Beans——sow 29 May – 29 July
Hollyhock——sow from 7 April
Hyssop——sow 7 April – 27 July
Kale——sow 7 April – 28 August
Kiwano1 April – 3 August3 May – 4 September24 May – 4 September
Kohlrabi——sow 7 April – 7 September
Leek6 January – 12 May17 March – 21 July7 April – 21 July
Lemon balm——sow 7 April – 30 August
Lettuce——sow 7 April – 12 September
Lisianthusfrom 20 Decemberfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Lovage——sow from 7 April
Luffa29 March – 28 May10 May – 9 July31 May – 9 July
Marigoldfrom 3 Marchfrom 14 Aprilfrom 5 May
Marjoram11 March – 15 August—31 May – 14 October
Melon12 April – 14 July10 May – 11 August31 May – 11 August
Microgreens——sow 29 May – 25 October
Moringa9 April – 20 August3 June – 14 October24 June – 14 October
Moss rosefrom 17 February—from 5 May
Mustard greens——sow 7 April – 24 September
Napa cabbage12 March – 25 August14 April – 27 September5 May – 27 September
Nasturtiumfrom 7 Marchfrom 14 Aprilfrom 5 May
Okra29 March – 8 August10 May – 19 September31 May – 19 September
Oregano16 January – 5 August17 March – 4 October7 April – 4 October
Pansyfrom 20 Januaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Parsley——sow 7 April – 24 August
Parsnip——sow 7 April – 13 July
Peanut3 April – 4 July10 May – 10 August31 May – 10 August
Peas——sow 7 April – 26 August
Petuniafrom 8 Marchfrom 10 Mayfrom 31 May
Physalis19 March – 1 July3 May – 15 August24 May – 15 August
Pumpkin29 March – 2 June10 May – 14 July31 May – 14 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 14 January—from 7 April
Radish——sow 7 April – 9 October
Sage27 January – 1 August17 March – 19 September7 April – 19 September
Scarlet sagefrom 12 March—from 24 May
Snapdragonfrom 11 Januaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Soybean——sow 31 May – 20 August
Spinach——sow 7 April – 14 September
Stevia15 March – 22 June3 May – 10 August24 May – 10 August
Stock——sow from 7 April
Sunflower——sow from 29 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 7 April
Sweet Corn29 March – 15 August20 April – 6 September11 May – 6 September
Sweet peafrom 3 Februaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Sweet William——sow from 7 April
Swiss Chard——sow 7 April – 9 September
Thyme——sow 7 April – 21 July
Tomato12 March – 28 May3 May – 19 July24 May – 19 July
Turnip——sow 7 April – 11 September
Watercress——sow 7 April – 22 September
Watermelon12 April – 2 July10 May – 30 July31 May – 30 July
Zinniafrom 29 Aprilfrom 3 Junefrom 24 June
Zucchini19 April – 1 August10 May – 22 August31 May – 22 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 Ithaca

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 4 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 26 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C20 March39 days earlier
10 °C24 April4 days earlier
15 °C24 May26 days later
18 °C31 May33 days later

Frost dates near Ithaca

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Allentown (15 April) and latest in Syracuse (United States) (28 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Syracuse (United States)74 km28 April6 November
Rochester121 km20 April12 November
Buffalo201 km24 April10 November
Allentown222 km15 April3 November
Albany226 km17 April6 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Ithaca

Within 15 km of Ithaca OpenStreetMap lists 3 garden centres, 3 plant nurseries, 6 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 29 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Ithaca Agway & True Value, 1 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Ithaca

Frosts in Ithaca usually come from about 8 November to about 28 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 Ithaca by month

Average weather in Ithaca over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (22.7–27.6 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in December–March (-6.3–-2.4 °C). About 1168 mm of rain falls in a year, on 163 days; August is the wettest month (122 mm) and January the driest (81 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January0.9-6.38115
February3.3-68213
March7.7-2.48514
April13.52.810615
May19.88.79714
June24.713.99913
July27.617.511513
August2616.812213
September22.713.58610
October16.58.111613
November8.61.48514
December3.4-39416

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 9 October
Crocus9 October – 4 December
Daffodil9 October – 4 December
Garlic9 October – 4 December
Grape hyacinthby 9 October
Helleboreby 9 October
Hyacinth9 October – 4 December
Lilyby 9 October
Ornamental onionby 9 October
Peonyby 9 October
Saffronby 9 October
Snowdropby 9 October
Tulip9 October – 4 December
Wild garlicby 9 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).