Frost dates by state › Vermont
Vermont frost dates
Average last spring and first fall frost dates for Vermont’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.
Reviewed October 2026
Among Vermont’s 20 largest cities, the average last spring frost ranges from Apr 29 in Burlington to May 20 in Morrisville. Elevation, distance from the coast and city heat all shift the date, so use your own ZIP code below for the closest match.
| City | Average last spring frost | Average first fall frost | Frost-free days | Hardiness zone | Weather station used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | Apr 29 | Oct 15 | 169 | 5a–5b | Burlington Intl Airport, VT, 5 mi |
| South Burlington | Apr 29 | Oct 15 | 169 | 5a–5b | Burlington Intl Airport, VT, 3 mi |
| Rutland | May 15 | Sep 27 | 135 | 5a | Rutland, VT |
| Essex Junction | May 2 | Oct 11 | 162 | 5a–5b | Essex Junction 1 N, VT |
| Winooski | Apr 29 | Oct 15 | 169 | 5a–5b | Burlington Intl Airport, VT, 3 mi |
| Barre | May 16 | Sep 29 | 136 | 4b–5a | Barre Montpelier Airport, VT, 4 mi |
| Montpelier | May 5 | Oct 9 | 157 | 4b–5a | Montpelier 2, VT, 2 mi |
| St. Albans | May 1 | Oct 12 | 164 | 5a | St Albans Radio, VT, 3 mi |
| Newport | May 14 | Sep 30 | 139 | 4b | Newport, VT |
| Bellows Falls | May 8 | Oct 3 | 148 | 5b–6a | Walpole 2S Nepp, NH, 7 mi |
| Vergennes | Apr 30 | Oct 17 | 170 | 5a | Vergennes, VT |
| Morrisville | May 20 | Sep 28 | 131 | 4b | Morrisville Stowe State Airport, VT, 2 mi |
| Swanton | May 1 | Oct 12 | 164 | 5a | St Albans Radio, VT, 5 mi |
| North Bennington | May 11 | Oct 2 | 144 | 5b | Bennington Morse St Airport, VT, 2 mi |
| Enosburg Falls | May 14 | Oct 1 | 140 | 4b | Enosburg Falls, VT |
| Johnson | May 9 | Oct 1 | 145 | 4b–5a | Johnson 2 N, VT |
| Poultney | Apr 30 | Oct 12 | 165 | 5a | Whitehall, NY, 9 mi |
| Woodstock | May 13 | Oct 1 | 141 | 5a–5b | Woodstock, VT |
| Ludlow | May 16 | Sep 29 | 136 | 5a–5b | Cavendish, VT, 5 mi |
| Orleans | May 14 | Sep 30 | 139 | 4b | Newport, VT, 10 mi |
Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 20 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.
An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.
Planting dates for Burlington
Timed from Burlington’s average last frost of Apr 29, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 11 to Mar 25 | May 6 to May 13 |
| Peppers | Mar 4 to Mar 18 | May 13 |
| Lettuce | Feb 25 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to Apr 8 |
| Broccoli | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to Apr 15 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 8 to Apr 15 | May 6 to May 13 |
| Basil | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | May 13 |
When to plant, for your garden
Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.
Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.
More about frost dates
How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors
Other states
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming