Fall in zone 4aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 12977 (Essex 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, Ray Brook, NY (0 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)123 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4a-30 to -25°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 12977, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 12977 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
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) | May 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 5 |
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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 8 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 3 | Sep 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 21 | Sep 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 8 | Oct 7 |
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 12977
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 21) and first fall frost (Sep 24). 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 26–Apr 9 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 12–26 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 12–26 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 30–May 21 (transplant) Apr 23–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (transplant) Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 21 (transplant) Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 12–26 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 12–26 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 4–25 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 9–23 | May 7–28 (transplant) May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 16–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 4–18 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 11–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 23–30 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 23–30 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 23–30 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 23–30 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 23–30 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 9–23 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 28–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 9–23 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (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: Ray Brook, NY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00306957), elevation 1,620 ft, 0.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Placid 2 S, NY | 6 mi | May 27 | Sep 22 |
| Saranac Rgnl AP, NY | 8 mi | Jun 2 | Sep 9 |
| Tupper Lake Sunmount, NY | 17 mi | May 16 | Sep 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 12977
When is the last frost in 12977?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 12977 is May 21. For a more cautious planting date, use June 5, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 12977?
The average first fall freeze is September 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 7.
What hardiness zone is 12977?
ZIP 12977 is in USDA zone 4a (-30 to -25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 12977 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
12983 Saranac Lake 12946 Lake Placid 12945 12939 12913 12997 Wilmington 12942 12970 Paul Smiths
Other ZIP codes in Essex County
12851 12852 12855 12857 12858 12870 12872 12883 12928 12932 12936 12941 12942 12943 12944 12946 12950 12956 12960 12961 12964 12974 12975 12987 All Essex County frost dates · New York frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.