When to plant in Cortland, NY
USDA Zone 5bCortland, New York frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Cortland's nearest full-normals station sits about 15 km out, so treat these as a close estimate — local microclimate can nudge your first and last frost. Zone 5b means Cortland sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
FREEVILLE 1 NE · 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 Cortland’s own odds, recorded at FREEVILLE 1 NE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 31 | May 19 | May 2 | Sep 16 | Sep 29 | Oct 11 |
| 32°F | May 23 | May 7 | Apr 23 | Sep 27 | Oct 8 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F | May 10 | Apr 25 | Apr 11 | Oct 6 | Oct 24 | Nov 5 |
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 Cortland, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 19 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.
Cortland planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Cortland, NY?
Cortland's average last spring frost falls near May 7 — 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 Cortland, NY?
Expect Cortland's first fall frost near October 8 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Cortland in?
Cortland 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 Cortland?
There are roughly 154 frost-free days in Cortland (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around May 7 to the first fall frost near October 8.
When should I plant tomatoes in Cortland?
In Cortland, start tomato seeds indoors around March 12–March 26, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 14 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Cortland
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Cortland’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Ithaca · 32 km
- DeWitt · 48 km
- Auburn · 49 km
- Syracuse · 49 km
- Endwell · 55 km
- Johnson City · 56 km
- Endicott · 57 km
- Binghamton · 60 km
Frost dates recorded at FREEVILLE 1 NE, 15 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 Cortland, NY — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00303050. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/new-york/cortland.