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| USDA Hardiness Zone Map |
Sunday, April 18, 2021
First and last frost dates are important to know. You don't want to put out the summer loving fruits and vegetables until after all danger of frost has passed in the spring. In the fall, you want to be sure to plant your fall and winter crops far enough in advance of your last frost that they are mature before freezing temperatures hit.
It is easy to find your first and last frost date using this web site. Frost dates Just put in your zip code and it brings up the frost dates for your area.
It gives a table with probability of having a frost. For last frost in spring, I use the 30% column. This means there is only a 30% chance that frost will occur after this date in your area. You can also use 50% if the crop you are planting is not frost sensitive. I use the 30% to gauge when to start my summer garden seeds indoors. Then, I look at the extended weather forecast to make the final determination on planting out in the garden.
For the crops that are frost sensitive, see A summer edible garden
For our area (Zone 7a), last frost is typically this week. The old timers in the area say that it is always safe to plant on Mother's Day. Our extended forecast shows we have a chance of frost 2 days this next week. I'll wait to plant heat lovers until the extended forecast is showing no chance of frost. Waiting a week or two longer doesn't get your harvest behind as they don't really start to grow until the soil is warmed up.
If you just can't wait, use covers to keep the plants protected and to warm the soil. Extend the season with protection for plants
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