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Last and first frost dates in Rochester

United States

In Rochester the last spring frost usually comes around 20 April and the first autumn frost around 12 November, which leaves about 206 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 20 May to 23 July.

Last spring frostaround 20 April
First autumn frostaround 12 November
Frost-free days206 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 6b

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 Rochester?

The last frost in Rochester usually comes around 20 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 30 March, while corn waits until 4 May. The first autumn frost follows around 12 November, about 206 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha25 February – 4 August6 April – 13 September27 April – 13 September
Ageratumfrom 4 March—from 20 May
Arugula——sow 30 March – 8 October
Basil4 April – 10 September12 May – 18 October2 June – 18 October
Beet——sow 30 March – 13 September
Bell Pepper13 March – 24 May12 May – 23 July2 June – 23 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 3 February—from 27 April
Bok Choy2 March – 21 September6 April – 26 October27 April – 26 October
Borage——sow 27 April – 18 September
Broad bean——sow 30 March – 4 August
Broccoli——sow 30 March – 28 July
Brussels Sprouts23 January – 25 June9 March – 9 August30 March – 9 August
Busy Lizziefrom 2 February—from 27 April
Cabbage——sow 30 March – 5 July
Calendula——sow from 30 March
Carrot——sow 30 March – 20 August
Cauliflower26 January – 28 July9 March – 8 September30 March – 8 September
Celeriac19 January – 25 May6 April – 10 August27 April – 10 August
Celery19 January – 4 June6 April – 20 August27 April – 20 August
Celosiafrom 19 Marchfrom 3 Mayfrom 24 May
Chamomile——sow 30 March – 8 September
Chayote15 January – 18 May13 April – 14 August4 May – 14 August
Chickpea——sow 30 March – 25 July
Chicory12 February – 19 August—30 March – 13 September
Chili Pepper13 March – 30 June12 May – 29 August2 June – 29 August
China asterfrom 21 Marchfrom 12 Mayfrom 2 June
Chives——sow 30 March – 30 August
Cilantro——sow 30 March – 9 September
Corn——sow 4 May – 25 July
Corn poppy——sow from 30 March
Cosmosfrom 19 Marchfrom 3 Mayfrom 24 May
Cucumber14 April – 31 July12 May – 28 August2 June – 28 August
Daikon——sow 30 March – 6 September
Delphiniumfrom 9 January—from 30 March
Dill——sow 30 March – 19 September
Edging lobeliafrom 2 February—from 27 April
Eggplant13 March – 24 May12 May – 23 July2 June – 23 July
Florence fennel20 February – 4 August6 April – 18 September27 April – 18 September
Foxglovefrom 22 December—from 30 March
Garden sorrel——sow 30 March – 7 September
Green Beans——sow 24 May – 2 August
Hollyhock——sow from 30 March
Hyssop——sow 30 March – 31 July
Kale——sow 30 March – 1 September
Kiwano28 March – 7 August29 April – 8 September20 May – 8 September
Kohlrabi——sow 30 March – 11 September
Leek29 December – 16 May9 March – 25 July30 March – 25 July
Lemon balm——sow 30 March – 3 September
Lettuce——sow 30 March – 16 September
Lisianthusfrom 12 Decemberfrom 9 Marchfrom 30 March
Lovage——sow from 30 March
Luffa31 March – 1 June12 May – 13 July2 June – 13 July
Marigoldfrom 23 Februaryfrom 6 Aprilfrom 27 April
Marjoram13 March – 19 August—2 June – 18 October
Melon14 April – 18 July12 May – 15 August2 June – 15 August
Microgreens——sow 24 May – 29 October
Moringa3 April – 24 August28 May – 18 October18 June – 18 October
Moss rosefrom 9 February—from 27 April
Mustard greens——sow 30 March – 28 September
Napa cabbage4 March – 29 August6 April – 1 October27 April – 1 October
Nasturtiumfrom 27 Februaryfrom 6 Aprilfrom 27 April
Okra31 March – 12 August12 May – 23 September2 June – 23 September
Oregano8 January – 9 August9 March – 8 October30 March – 8 October
Pansyfrom 12 Januaryfrom 9 Marchfrom 30 March
Parsley——sow 30 March – 28 August
Parsnip——sow 30 March – 17 July
Peanut5 April – 8 July12 May – 14 August2 June – 14 August
Peas——sow 30 March – 30 August
Petuniafrom 10 Marchfrom 12 Mayfrom 2 June
Physalis15 March – 5 July29 April – 19 August20 May – 19 August
Pumpkin31 March – 6 June12 May – 18 July2 June – 18 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 6 January—from 30 March
Radish——sow 30 March – 13 October
Sage19 January – 5 August9 March – 23 September30 March – 23 September
Scarlet sagefrom 8 March—from 20 May
Snapdragonfrom 3 Januaryfrom 9 Marchfrom 30 March
Soybean——sow 2 June – 24 August
Spinach——sow 30 March – 18 September
Stevia11 March – 26 June29 April – 14 August20 May – 14 August
Stock——sow from 30 March
Sunflower——sow from 24 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 30 March
Sweet Corn27 March – 19 August18 April – 10 September9 May – 10 September
Sweet peafrom 26 Januaryfrom 9 Marchfrom 30 March
Sweet William——sow from 30 March
Swiss Chard——sow 30 March – 13 September
Thyme——sow 30 March – 25 July
Tomato8 March – 1 June29 April – 23 July20 May – 23 July
Turnip——sow 30 March – 15 September
Watercress——sow 30 March – 26 September
Watermelon14 April – 6 July12 May – 3 August2 June – 3 August
Zinniafrom 23 Aprilfrom 28 Mayfrom 18 June
Zucchini21 April – 5 August12 May – 26 August2 June – 26 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 Rochester?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Rochester (ZIP 14608) in zone 6b. Zone 6b stands for an average coldest night of -5 to 0 °F (-20.6 to -17.8 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 6b or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

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

When the soil warms up in Rochester

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 30 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C15 March36 days earlier
10 °C26 April6 days later
15 °C20 May30 days later
18 °C2 June43 days later

Frost dates near Rochester

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Hamilton (19 April) and latest in Ithaca (28 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Buffalo106 km24 April10 November
Syracuse (United States)121 km28 April6 November
Ithaca121 km28 April8 November
Toronto153 km26 April30 October
Hamilton181 km19 April7 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Rochester

Within 15 km of Rochester OpenStreetMap lists 8 garden centres, 7 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Stem Plants, 2 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Rochester

Frosts in Rochester usually come from about 12 November to about 20 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 Rochester by month

Average weather in Rochester over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (23.2–27.2 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in December–March (-4.7–-1.1 °C). About 1078 mm of rain falls in a year, on 160 days; October is the wettest month (123 mm) and March the driest (76 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January1.4-4.78315
February3.6-4.38114
March7.2-1.17613
April12.33.710114
May18.39.88913
June2415.67911
July27.219.29812
August26.218.69213
September23.215.37610
October16.99.812314
November9.42.99014
December4.1-1.99017

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 October
Crocus13 October – 14 December
Daffodil13 October – 14 December
Garlic13 October – 14 December
Grape hyacinthby 13 October
Helleboreby 13 October
Hyacinth13 October – 14 December
Lilyby 13 October
Ornamental onionby 13 October
Peonyby 13 October
Saffronby 13 October
Snowdropby 13 October
Tulip13 October – 14 December
Wild garlicby 13 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).