Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 12581 (Dutchess County, NY)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Millbrook 3 W, NY (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)155 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
55°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 49°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Millbrook 3 W, 8 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 60°, Fri 60°, Sat 55°.
4-inch depth
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Millbrook 3 W, 8 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 61°, Fri 60°, Sat 58°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 12581 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 58°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 21 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 21 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 19 | Sep 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 4 | Oct 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 22 | Oct 19 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 12581
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 7). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 9–23 | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 23–Mar 9 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 23–Mar 9 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 9–23 | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 9–23 | Apr 13–May 4 (transplant) Apr 6–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 23–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–Aug 12 (transplant) Jul 1–29 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 9–23 | Apr 6–May 4 (transplant) Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–Aug 12 (transplant) Jul 1–29 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | Jul 1–29 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jun 17–Jul 8 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 23–Apr 6 | Apr 20–May 11 (transplant) Apr 20–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–29 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 30–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–29 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 9–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 23–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jun 17–Jul 1 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 25–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 6–13 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 6–13 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 6–13 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 6–13 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 6–13 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 9–23 | May 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 20–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Millbrook 3 W, NY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00064756), elevation 413 ft, 8.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhinebeck 4SE, NY | 9 mi | May 14 | Sep 28 |
| Copake, NY | 16 mi | May 4 | Oct 11 |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 17 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 21 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 24 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 12581
When is the last frost in 12581?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 12581 is May 4. For a more cautious planting date, use May 21, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 12581?
The average first fall freeze is October 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 28.
What hardiness zone is 12581?
ZIP 12581 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 12581 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
12514 12567 Pine Plains 12545 Millbrook 12501 Amenia 12578 Salt Point 12572 Rhinebeck 12571 Red Hook 12580 Staatsburg
Other ZIP codes in Dutchess County
12501 12504 12507 12508 12512 12514 12522 12524 12527 12531 12533 12538 12540 12545 12546 12564 12567 12569 12570 12571 12572 12574 12578 12580 All Dutchess County frost dates · New York frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.