When to plant in Monroe, NY
Planting dates worked out from Monroe's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 69 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalApr 16about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outApr 281 year in 10 gets a later frost
Hardy crops like peas and spinach are timed from the typical date. Wait for the safe date before planting out tomatoes, peppers and squash.
First fall frost
- EarlyOct 31 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 18about half of years have had frost
- LateNov 49 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 177 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Middletown 2 Nw · 26.2 km away · station 213 m, town 196 m. How we match towns to stations
This season
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jun 22 |
| Sweet pepper | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jun 27 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Feb 24 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 10 |
| Peas | — | Mar 31 – Apr 28 | May 25 |
| Bush beans | — | Apr 21 – May 12 | Jun 10 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 7 – May 19 | Jun 6 |
| Beet | — | Apr 7 – May 19 | May 27 |
| Potato | — | Apr 7 – Apr 28 | Jun 16 |
| Kale | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | May 20 |
| Broccoli | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | May 30 |
| Cucumber | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jun 17 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jun 12 |
| Winter squash | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jul 17 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 21 – May 12 | Jun 20 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | Jun 29 |
| Garlic | — | Oct 4 – Nov 1 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Mar 31 – Apr 28 | May 8 |
| Basil | Mar 17 – Mar 31 | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jun 24 |
Monroe's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
Each year's last spring frostLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1893 | Apr 26 |
| 1894 | Apr 12 |
| 1896 | Apr 10 |
| 1898 | Apr 9 |
| 1899 | Apr 17 |
| 1900 | May 10 |
| 1901 | Apr 3 |
| 1902 | Apr 1 |
| 1903 | May 2 |
| 1904 | Apr 22 |
| 1905 | Apr 19 |
| 1906 | Apr 8 |
| 1952 | May 5 |
| 1953 | Apr 21 |
| 1954 | May 7 |
| 1955 | Apr 9 |
| 1956 | May 17 |
| 1957 | May 3 |
| 1958 | Apr 11 |
| 1959 | Apr 22 |
| 1960 | Apr 11 |
| 1961 | Apr 20 |
| 1962 | Apr 21 |
| 1963 | May 24 |
| 1964 | Apr 11 |
| 1965 | Apr 25 |
| 1966 | May 10 |
| 1967 | May 7 |
| 1968 | Apr 7 |
| 1969 | Apr 20 |
| 1970 | Apr 13 |
| 1971 | Apr 25 |
| 1972 | Apr 26 |
| 1973 | Apr 15 |
| 1974 | May 5 |
| 1975 | Apr 14 |
| 1976 | Apr 13 |
| 1977 | Apr 10 |
| 1978 | Apr 15 |
| 1979 | Apr 10 |
| 1980 | Apr 17 |
| 1981 | Apr 22 |
| 1982 | Apr 15 |
| 1983 | Apr 19 |
| 1984 | Apr 22 |
| 1985 | Apr 10 |
| 1986 | Apr 23 |
| 1987 | Apr 2 |
| 1988 | Apr 20 |
| 1989 | Apr 23 |
| 1990 | Apr 19 |
| 1991 | Apr 3 |
| 1992 | Apr 15 |
| 1993 | Apr 29 |
| 1994 | Apr 23 |
| 1995 | Apr 17 |
| 1996 | Apr 15 |
| 1997 | Apr 15 |
| 1998 | Mar 26 |
| 1999 | Apr 24 |
| 2000 | Apr 14 |
| 2002 | Apr 27 |
| 2003 | Apr 14 |
| 2004 | Apr 13 |
| 2006 | Apr 9 |
| 2007 | Apr 12 |
| 2008 | May 2 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1893 | 186 |
| 1898 | 212 |
| 1899 | 167 |
| 1900 | 159 |
| 1901 | 204 |
| 1902 | 203 |
| 1903 | 175 |
| 1904 | 152 |
| 1905 | 185 |
| 1906 | 187 |
| 1952 | 155 |
| 1953 | 155 |
| 1954 | 152 |
| 1955 | 196 |
| 1956 | 147 |
| 1957 | 175 |
| 1958 | 173 |
| 1959 | 179 |
| 1960 | 193 |
| 1961 | 167 |
| 1962 | 186 |
| 1963 | 122 |
| 1964 | 177 |
| 1965 | 162 |
| 1966 | 172 |
| 1967 | 174 |
| 1968 | 206 |
| 1969 | 185 |
| 1970 | 187 |
| 1971 | 196 |
| 1972 | 167 |
| 1973 | 203 |
| 1974 | 150 |
| 1975 | 199 |
| 1976 | 187 |
| 1977 | 196 |
| 1978 | 183 |
| 1979 | 199 |
| 1980 | 175 |
| 1981 | 180 |
| 1983 | 184 |
| 1984 | 166 |
| 1985 | 201 |
| 1986 | 170 |
| 1987 | 193 |
| 1988 | 189 |
| 1989 | 169 |
| 1990 | 190 |
| 1991 | 178 |
| 1993 | 164 |
| 1994 | 170 |
| 1995 | 201 |
| 1996 | 171 |
| 1997 | 169 |
| 1998 | 222 |
| 1999 | 166 |
| 2000 | 177 |
| 2002 | 170 |
| 2003 | 192 |
| 2004 | 204 |
| 2006 | 187 |
| 2007 | 209 |
| 2008 | 169 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1898 | 17.1 °C |
| 1899 | 17.5 °C |
| 1900 | 18.2 °C |
| 1901 | 18.2 °C |
| 1902 | 16.7 °C |
| 1903 | 16.5 °C |
| 1904 | 16.8 °C |
| 1905 | 17.5 °C |
| 1906 | 18.2 °C |
| 1908 | 19.1 °C |
| 1952 | 17.9 °C |
| 1953 | 17.6 °C |
| 1954 | 17.0 °C |
| 1955 | 18.9 °C |
| 1956 | 16.4 °C |
| 1957 | 18.3 °C |
| 1958 | 17.4 °C |
| 1959 | 19.1 °C |
| 1960 | 18.1 °C |
| 1961 | 18.1 °C |
| 1962 | 17.9 °C |
| 1963 | 17.4 °C |
| 1964 | 18.1 °C |
| 1965 | 18.0 °C |
| 1966 | 17.8 °C |
| 1967 | 17.5 °C |
| 1968 | 18.4 °C |
| 1969 | 18.4 °C |
| 1970 | 18.4 °C |
| 1971 | 17.9 °C |
| 1972 | 17.7 °C |
| 1973 | 18.4 °C |
| 1974 | 17.9 °C |
| 1975 | 17.8 °C |
| 1976 | 18.0 °C |
| 1977 | 18.5 °C |
| 1978 | 17.9 °C |
| 1979 | 18.0 °C |
| 1980 | 19.1 °C |
| 1981 | 18.7 °C |
| 1982 | 17.7 °C |
| 1983 | 18.9 °C |
| 1984 | 17.9 °C |
| 1985 | 18.8 °C |
| 1986 | 18.2 °C |
| 1987 | 18.5 °C |
| 1988 | 18.4 °C |
| 1989 | 17.8 °C |
| 1990 | 17.8 °C |
| 1991 | 19.6 °C |
| 1993 | 18.7 °C |
| 1994 | 18.4 °C |
| 1995 | 18.3 °C |
| 1996 | 18.0 °C |
| 1997 | 17.4 °C |
| 1998 | 19.3 °C |
| 1999 | 19.2 °C |
| 2000 | 17.8 °C |
| 2002 | 18.9 °C |
| 2003 | 18.1 °C |
| 2004 | 18.4 °C |
| 2006 | 18.2 °C |
| 2007 | 17.6 °C |
| 2008 | 18.0 °C |
| 2009 | 16.6 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1893, Monroe's last spring frost has stayed at about the same time of year. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Middletown 2 Nw (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.