When to plant in Burlington, VT
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Burlington, Vermont — all computed from Burlington's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 5b, Burlington gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Burlington is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BURLINGTON 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 Burlington’s own odds, recorded at BURLINGTON INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 23 | May 8 | Apr 27 | Sep 23 | Oct 4 | Oct 19 |
| 32°F | May 11 | Apr 29 | Apr 17 | Oct 2 | Oct 15 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 18 | Apr 5 | Oct 12 | Oct 28 | Nov 12 |
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 Burlington, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
Burlington planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Burlington, VT?
Plan for the last spring frost in Burlington around April 29 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Burlington, VT?
In Burlington, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 15 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Burlington in?
Burlington 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 Burlington?
Burlington has about 169 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 29) and first fall frost (October 15).
When should I plant tomatoes in Burlington?
For Burlington, sow tomatoes indoors about March 4–March 18 and move the seedlings out around May 6, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Burlington
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Burlington’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- South Burlington · 8 km
- Essex Junction · 10 km
- Plattsburgh · 28 km
- Rutland · 100 km
- Lebanon · 124 km
- Glens Falls · 135 km
- West Glens Falls · 137 km
- Massena · 139 km
Frost dates recorded at BURLINGTON 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 Burlington, VT — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014742. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/vermont/burlington.