Plattsburgh, NY 12903 Frost Dates
When can you plant in Plattsburgh, NY?
Typically, the last spring freeze lands around 05/06, roughly 251 days out. The first fall frost typically arrives around 10/05, about 152 frost-free days later.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts Plattsburgh in Zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average annual minimum); frost dates are NOAA's 1991-2020 station normal, not this year's forecast.
What to do before the first frost
About 5 weeks of growing season left in Plattsburgh before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.
Why 05/06 isn't a guarantee
05/06 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 04/24 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 05/19 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How Plattsburgh compares
Plattsburgh's growing season runs about 152 days, ranking 34,703 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within NY, it ranks 1,457 of 1,951.
Learn more
zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 5a and Plattsburgh's frost date answer different questions. the frost range covers how to read the range around Plattsburgh's dates instead of trusting one.