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Last and first frost dates in Providence

United States

In Providence the last spring frost usually comes around 11 April and the first autumn frost around 8 November, which leaves about 211 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 17 May to 19 July.

Last spring frostaround 11 April
First autumn frostaround 8 November
Frost-free days211 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 7a

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 Providence?

The last frost in Providence usually comes around 11 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 21 March, while corn waits until 3 May. The first autumn frost follows around 8 November, about 211 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha16 February – 31 July28 March – 9 September18 April – 9 September
Ageratumfrom 1 March—from 17 May
Arugula——sow 21 March – 4 October
Basil2 April – 6 September10 May – 14 October31 May – 14 October
Beet——sow 21 March – 9 September
Bell Pepper11 March – 20 May10 May – 19 July31 May – 19 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 25 January—from 18 April
Bok Choy21 February – 17 September28 March – 22 October18 April – 22 October
Borage——sow 18 April – 14 September
Broad bean——sow 21 March – 31 July
Broccoli——sow 21 March – 24 July
Brussels Sprouts14 January – 21 June28 February – 5 August21 March – 5 August
Busy Lizziefrom 24 January—from 18 April
Cabbage——sow 21 March – 1 July
Calendula——sow from 21 March
Carrot——sow 21 March – 16 August
Cauliflower17 January – 24 July28 February – 4 September21 March – 4 September
Celeriac10 January – 21 May28 March – 6 August18 April – 6 August
Celery10 January – 31 May28 March – 16 August18 April – 16 August
Celosiafrom 15 Marchfrom 29 Aprilfrom 20 May
Chamomile——sow 21 March – 4 September
Chayote14 January – 14 May12 April – 10 August3 May – 10 August
Chickpea——sow 21 March – 21 July
Chicory3 February – 15 August—21 March – 9 September
Chili Pepper11 March – 26 June10 May – 25 August31 May – 25 August
China asterfrom 19 Marchfrom 10 Mayfrom 31 May
Chives——sow 21 March – 26 August
Cilantro——sow 21 March – 5 September
Corn——sow 3 May – 21 July
Corn poppy——sow from 21 March
Cosmosfrom 15 Marchfrom 29 Aprilfrom 20 May
Cucumber12 April – 27 July10 May – 24 August31 May – 24 August
Daikon——sow 21 March – 2 September
Delphiniumfrom 31 December—from 21 March
Dill——sow 21 March – 15 September
Edging lobeliafrom 24 January—from 18 April
Eggplant11 March – 20 May10 May – 19 July31 May – 19 July
Florence fennel11 February – 31 July28 March – 14 September18 April – 14 September
Foxglovefrom 13 December—from 21 March
Garden sorrel——sow 21 March – 3 September
Green Beans——sow 20 May – 29 July
Hollyhock——sow from 21 March
Hyssop——sow 21 March – 27 July
Kale——sow 21 March – 28 August
Kiwano25 March – 3 August26 April – 4 September17 May – 4 September
Kohlrabi——sow 21 March – 7 September
Leek20 December – 12 May28 February – 21 July21 March – 21 July
Lemon balm——sow 21 March – 30 August
Lettuce——sow 21 March – 12 September
Lisianthusfrom 3 Decemberfrom 28 Februaryfrom 21 March
Lovage——sow from 21 March
Luffa29 March – 28 May10 May – 9 July31 May – 9 July
Marigoldfrom 14 Februaryfrom 28 Marchfrom 18 April
Marjoram11 March – 15 August—31 May – 14 October
Melon12 April – 14 July10 May – 11 August31 May – 11 August
Microgreens——sow 20 May – 25 October
Moringa4 April – 20 August29 May – 14 October19 June – 14 October
Moss rosefrom 31 January—from 18 April
Mustard greens——sow 21 March – 24 September
Napa cabbage23 February – 25 August28 March – 27 September18 April – 27 September
Nasturtiumfrom 18 Februaryfrom 28 Marchfrom 18 April
Okra29 March – 8 August10 May – 19 September31 May – 19 September
Oregano30 December – 5 August28 February – 4 October21 March – 4 October
Pansyfrom 3 Januaryfrom 28 Februaryfrom 21 March
Parsley——sow 21 March – 24 August
Parsnip——sow 21 March – 13 July
Peanut3 April – 4 July10 May – 10 August31 May – 10 August
Peas——sow 21 March – 26 August
Petuniafrom 8 Marchfrom 10 Mayfrom 31 May
Physalis12 March – 1 July26 April – 15 August17 May – 15 August
Pumpkin29 March – 2 June10 May – 14 July31 May – 14 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 28 December—from 21 March
Radish——sow 21 March – 9 October
Sage10 January – 1 August28 February – 19 September21 March – 19 September
Scarlet sagefrom 5 March—from 17 May
Snapdragonfrom 25 Decemberfrom 28 Februaryfrom 21 March
Soybean——sow 31 May – 20 August
Spinach——sow 21 March – 14 September
Stevia8 March – 22 June26 April – 10 August17 May – 10 August
Stock——sow from 21 March
Sunflower——sow from 20 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 21 March
Sweet Corn25 March – 15 August16 April – 6 September7 May – 6 September
Sweet peafrom 17 Januaryfrom 28 Februaryfrom 21 March
Sweet William——sow from 21 March
Swiss Chard——sow 21 March – 9 September
Thyme——sow 21 March – 21 July
Tomato5 March – 28 May26 April – 19 July17 May – 19 July
Turnip——sow 21 March – 11 September
Watercress——sow 21 March – 22 September
Watermelon12 April – 2 July10 May – 30 July31 May – 30 July
Zinniafrom 24 Aprilfrom 29 Mayfrom 19 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.

What planting zone is Providence?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Providence (ZIP 02903) in zone 7a. Zone 7a stands for an average coldest night of 0 to 5 °F (-17.8 to -15 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 7a or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

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

When the soil warms up in Providence

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 6 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 36 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C6 March36 days earlier
10 °C17 April6 days later
15 °C17 May36 days later
18 °C31 May50 days later

Frost dates near Providence

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
Worcester (United States)60 km11 April8 November
Boston67 km9 April13 November
Hartford106 km13 April8 November
Manchester (United States)130 km22 April2 November
New Haven138 km6 April12 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Providence

Within 15 km of Providence OpenStreetMap lists 6 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 1 market and 8 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Jordan's Jungle, 5 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Providence

Frosts in Providence usually come from about 8 November to about 11 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 Providence by month

Average weather in Providence over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (20–28.7 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in December–March (-4.1–-0.4 °C). About 1320 mm of rain falls in a year, on 130 days; October is the wettest month (133 mm) and June the driest (84 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January3.8-4.111210
February5.7-3.59710
March9.2-0.411410
April14.24.512212
May2010.111113
June25.415.58411
July28.719.512012
August27.618.69112
September23.415.211110
October17.89.713310
November11.22.8929
December5.8-213311

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 – 30 December
Daffodil9 October – 30 December
Garlic9 October – 30 December
Grape hyacinthby 9 October
Helleboreby 9 October
Hyacinth9 October – 30 December
Lilyby 9 October
Ornamental onionby 9 October
Peonyby 9 October
Saffronby 9 October
Snowdropby 9 October
Tulip9 October – 30 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).