When to plant in Dunkirk, NY
USDA Zone 7aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Dunkirk, New York — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 7a, Dunkirk supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
DUNKIRK · 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 Dunkirk’s own odds, recorded at DUNKIRK.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 26 | May 11 | Apr 27 | Sep 28 | Oct 10 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F | May 15 | Apr 30 | Apr 18 | Oct 6 | Oct 23 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | May 5 | Apr 19 | Apr 4 | Oct 22 | Nov 8 | Nov 24 |
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 Dunkirk, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 5 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.
Dunkirk planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Dunkirk, NY?
Dunkirk's average last spring frost falls near April 30 — 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 Dunkirk, NY?
In Dunkirk, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 23 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Dunkirk in?
Dunkirk is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Dunkirk?
Dunkirk has about 176 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 30) and first fall frost (October 23).
When should I plant tomatoes in Dunkirk?
For Dunkirk, sow tomatoes indoors about March 5–March 19 and move the seedlings out around May 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Dunkirk
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Dunkirk’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Jamestown · 43 km
- Lackawanna · 56 km
- Buffalo · 60 km
- West Seneca · 62 km
- Kenmore · 66 km
- Cheektowaga · 67 km
- Tonawanda Town · 67 km
- Eggertsville · 69 km
Frost dates recorded at DUNKIRK, 1 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 Dunkirk, NY — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00302197. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/new-york/dunkirk.