When to plant in Elmira, NY
USDA Zone 6aElmira, New York frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 6a, Elmira gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Elmira is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
ELMIRA · 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 Elmira’s own odds, recorded at ELMIRA.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 31 | May 18 | May 3 | Sep 19 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | May 21 | May 6 | Apr 24 | Sep 29 | Oct 11 | Oct 27 |
| 28°F | May 9 | Apr 25 | Apr 12 | Oct 7 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
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 Elmira, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 22 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.
Elmira planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Elmira, NY?
On average, the last spring frost in Elmira is around May 6 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Elmira, NY?
In Elmira, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 11 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Elmira in?
Elmira is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Elmira?
Elmira has about 158 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (October 11).
When should I plant tomatoes in Elmira?
For Elmira, sow tomatoes indoors about March 11–March 25 and move the seedlings out around May 13, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Elmira
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Elmira’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Corning · 21 km
- Ithaca · 46 km
- Endicott · 62 km
- Endwell · 65 km
- Johnson City · 70 km
- Binghamton · 74 km
- Cortland · 77 km
- Geneva · 87 km
Frost dates recorded at ELMIRA, 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 Elmira, NY — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00302610. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/new-york/elmira.