Frost dates for 11231Brooklyn, NY
The average last spring frost in Brooklyn is April 1 and the average first fall frost is November 19, giving a typical growing season of about 233 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- Apr 1
- Average first fall frost
- Nov 19
- Growing season
- 233 days
Safer after Apr 12 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Nov 6 (1-in-10 risk)
First frost typically in 16 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | Mar 30 · Apr 10 · Apr 25 | Oct 25 · Nov 6 · Nov 22 | 209 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Mar 16 · Apr 1 · Apr 12 | Nov 6 · Nov 19 · Dec 5 | 233 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Mar 4 · Mar 19 · Apr 2 | Nov 16 · Dec 1 · Dec 18 | 255 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Brooklyn
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Mar 1 – May 7 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | Apr 17 – Jul 30 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Mar 1 – Apr 1 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | May 1 – Jun 1 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Mar 18 – Apr 16 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | May 1 – Jun 1 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | May 1 – Aug 9 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | Apr 17 – Jun 1 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | May 1 – Jun 1 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | Apr 17 – Sep 1 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | Apr 17 – Jul 30 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | May 1 – Jun 1 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | Apr 24 – May 17 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 1 – Apr 16 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Mar 1 – May 1 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Jan 18 – Feb 14 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 18 – Apr 16 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 11 – Mar 17 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 18 – Apr 16 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jul 20 – Jul 30 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Aug 19 – Aug 30 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 1 – Mar 1 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 1 – Apr 1 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jul 10 – Aug 9 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Aug 9 – Sep 9 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 1 – May 17 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Aug 9 – Sep 25 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Feb 22 – Apr 7 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Aug 26 – Sep 30 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 1 – Apr 21 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Aug 9 – Oct 10 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 18 – Apr 7 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Aug 2 – Sep 9 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 1 – May 17 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 10 – Aug 25 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Nov 9 – Dec 10 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 11231 is matched to the NOAA station Ny Ave V Brooklyn, NY, 9.7 km away, at 20 ft elevation (16 ft lower than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ny Ave V Brooklyn, NY (used) | 20 ft | Apr 1 | Nov 19 |
| New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY | 130 ft | Mar 30 | Nov 20 |
| Newark Intl Ap, NJ | 7 ft | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| Harrison, NJ | 24 ft | Apr 4 | Nov 6 |
Frost dates near Brooklyn
- Brooklyn, NY 11217 · last Apr 1, first Nov 19
- New York, NY 10041 · last Apr 1, first Nov 19
- Jersey City, NJ 07302 · last Apr 4, first Nov 6
- Hoboken, NJ 07030 · last Apr 4, first Nov 6
- Long Island City, NY 11109 · last Mar 26, first Nov 25
- Ridgewood, NY 11386 · last Mar 26, first Nov 25
- Secaucus, NJ 07096 · last Apr 4, first Nov 6
- Kearny, NJ 07099 · last Apr 4, first Nov 6
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Brooklyn, NY?
- For ZIP code 11231, the average last spring frost (32°F) is April 1, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Ny Ave V Brooklyn, NY weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after April 12.
- When is the first frost in Brooklyn, NY?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is November 19. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by November 6, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 11231?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 233 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.