When to plant in Elko, NV
USDA Zone 5bElko, Nevada frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Elko's growing season is short at roughly 112 days, so succession planting is limited; lean on transplants over direct sowing for anything slow to mature. In zone 5b, Elko gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
ELKO RGNL AP · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Elko’s own odds, recorded at ELKO RGNL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 30 | Jun 12 | May 27 | Aug 23 | Sep 7 | Sep 21 |
| 32°F | Jun 16 | May 29 | May 10 | Sep 3 | Sep 18 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F | May 31 | May 11 | Apr 24 | Sep 15 | Sep 29 | Oct 14 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Elko, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 20 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Elko planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Elko, NV?
Elko's average last spring frost falls near May 29 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Elko, NV?
Expect Elko's first fall frost near September 18 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Elko in?
Elko is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. In zone 5b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Elko?
Elko has about 112 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 29) and first fall frost (September 18).
When should I plant tomatoes in Elko?
For Elko, sow tomatoes indoors about April 3–April 17 and move the seedlings out around June 5, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Elko
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Elko’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Spring Creek · 18 km
- Twin Falls · 220 km
- Jerome · 233 km
- Burley · 250 km
- Mountain Home · 255 km
- Grantsville · 279 km
- Stansbury Park · 293 km
- Tooele · 294 km
Frost dates recorded at ELKO RGNL AP, 2 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Elko, NV — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00024121. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/nevada/elko.