When to plant in Essex Junction, VT
USDA Zone 5aEssex Junction, Vermont frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 5a means Essex Junction sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Essex Junction is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
ESSEX JUNCTION 1 N · 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 Essex Junction’s own odds, recorded at ESSEX JUNCTION 1 N.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 30 | May 16 | May 1 | Sep 19 | Oct 1 | Oct 13 |
| 32°F | May 17 | May 2 | Apr 21 | Sep 30 | Oct 11 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F | May 5 | Apr 23 | Apr 9 | Oct 8 | Oct 24 | 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 Essex Junction, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 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.
Essex Junction planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Essex Junction, VT?
Plan for the last spring frost in Essex Junction around May 2 (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 Essex Junction, VT?
Expect Essex Junction's first fall frost near October 11 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Essex Junction in?
Essex Junction is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. In zone 5a, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Essex Junction?
There are roughly 162 frost-free days in Essex Junction (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around May 2 to the first fall frost near October 11.
When should I plant tomatoes in Essex Junction?
In Essex Junction, start tomato seeds indoors around March 7–March 21, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 9 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Essex Junction
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Essex Junction’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- South Burlington · 8 km
- Burlington · 10 km
- Plattsburgh · 35 km
- Rutland · 99 km
- Lebanon · 117 km
- Claremont · 138 km
- Glens Falls · 138 km
- West Glens Falls · 140 km
Frost dates recorded at ESSEX JUNCTION 1 N, 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 Essex Junction, VT — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00432843. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/vermont/essex-junction.