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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 12061 — East Greenbush, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Troy L&D, NY (15 ft), 11 miles north.

Updated

In East Greenbush, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 19 in half of years and has passed by May 3 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 26, as early as October 11 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 190 days (NOAA, Troy L&D, NY).

Last spring frost
April 19

50% probability

First fall frost
October 26

50% probability

Growing season
190 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

-10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) coldest night

First snow
December 3

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 25

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

20 of 20 observed

Snow per year
52.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in East Greenbush

Half of springs at Troy L&D, NY see their last 32°F night by April 19; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 3. Planting tender crops after April 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 28 20%, and after May 3 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 63% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 26 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 20, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 190 days in a typical year, longer than at 86% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 209 days one year in ten and falls short of 168 one year in ten. On average 131 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 12 days longer, to about May 1, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 10 and March 15.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 19Apr 22Apr 25Apr 28May 1May 3May 6May 9May 15
32°FApr 6Apr 10Apr 13Apr 16Apr 19Apr 21Apr 23Apr 28May 3
28°FMar 27Apr 1Apr 3Apr 5Apr 7Apr 9Apr 12Apr 17Apr 20
24°FMar 15Mar 21Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 5Apr 9
20°FMar 8Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 23Mar 27Mar 30Apr 1Apr 4
16°FMar 1Mar 5Mar 9Mar 12Mar 15Mar 18Mar 21Mar 26Mar 31
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 30Oct 3Oct 7Oct 10Oct 13Oct 17Oct 21Oct 25Oct 31
32°FOct 11Oct 16Oct 20Oct 23Oct 26Oct 30Nov 1Nov 5Nov 10
28°FOct 25Oct 30Nov 1Nov 4Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 20
24°FNov 4Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 18Nov 21Nov 24Nov 27Dec 1
20°FNov 15Nov 20Nov 24Nov 27Nov 30Dec 2Dec 5Dec 10Dec 16
16°FNov 24Nov 30Dec 3Dec 6Dec 10Dec 14Dec 18Dec 22Dec 27

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Troy L&D, NY, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 12061 →Compare East Greenbush with another place →

Weather by month in East Greenbush

July is the warmest month at Troy L&D, NY, averaging 86°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°F and 17°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,188 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 89% of the 173 New York stations. 33% of them (1,036) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 770. Precipitation totals 42.0 inches a year, most in June (4.6") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 49% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Troy L&D, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan34172.7100%281
Feb37182.4100%261
Mar46262.9100%2411
Apr60383.198%887
May73493.815%<1344
Jun81594.60%0593
Jul86644.60%0770
Aug84623.90%0718
Sep77543.81%<1475
Oct64434.263%4162
Nov51332.8100%1624
Dec40253.2100%252

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Troy L&D, NY (15 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Valatie 1 N, NY, 11 miles south of East Greenbush and 285 feet higher, has a last frost 8 days later (April 27), a first frost 12 days earlier (October 14), a season 19 days shorter.

Frost dates for 12033 (Castleton) →

When it snows in East Greenbush, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in East Greenbush usually arrives around December 3, and the last of the season around March 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at West Sand Lake 2 S, NY, 4.1 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 25 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 12061

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for East Greenbush, New York
WhenWhat to do
February 8 – February 22Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 22 – March 8Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 22 – April 5Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 19 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 3Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 12Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 26 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 12061 is 11 miles from Troy L&D, NY, which stands at 15 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 11 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 12180 (Troy). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12061 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across New York →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 6a places in New York