When to plant in Rochester, NY
USDA Zone 6bRochester, 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 6b, Rochester gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Rochester is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
ROCHESTER GTR INTL 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 Rochester’s own odds, recorded at ROCHESTER GTR INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 19 | May 4 | Apr 23 | Sep 28 | Oct 11 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | May 8 | Apr 24 | Apr 12 | Oct 8 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Apr 26 | Apr 14 | Apr 1 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 | Nov 21 |
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 Rochester, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 23 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.
Rochester planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Rochester, NY?
On average, the last spring frost in Rochester is around April 24 (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 Rochester, NY?
Expect Rochester's first fall frost near October 25 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Rochester in?
Rochester is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Rochester?
Rochester has about 184 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 24) and first fall frost (October 25).
When should I plant tomatoes in Rochester?
For Rochester, sow tomatoes indoors about February 27–March 13 and move the seedlings out around May 1, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Rochester
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Rochester’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Irondequoit · 6 km
- Brighton · 6 km
- Greece · 8 km
- Canandaigua · 42 km
- Batavia · 50 km
- Geneva · 62 km
- Lockport · 87 km
- Auburn · 89 km
Frost dates recorded at ROCHESTER GTR INTL AP, 8 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 Rochester, NY — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014768. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/new-york/rochester.