In Albany, the average last spring frost is Apr 27 and the average first fall frost is Oct 15, a growing season of about 171 days (zone 6a). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 16 and move them outside from May 11. Plant garlic Oct 22 to Oct 29, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Albany at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Apr 27 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 15 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 171 days
- Hardiness zone
- 6a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Troy L&D, NY; Albany AP, NY; and Valatie 1 N, NY, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Albany this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Albany in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 16.
What to plant in Albany this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 16
What to plant in Albany this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 16
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 16
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 16
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 16
- Start kale indoors: Mar 23
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 23
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 23
- Start basil indoors: Mar 30
Coming up in early April: direct sow spinach (Apr 6), direct sow peas (Apr 6), direct sow radishes (Apr 6), transplant lettuce (Apr 13), direct sow carrots (Apr 13), start cucumbers indoors (Apr 13), start zucchini indoors (Apr 13) and start winter squash indoors (Apr 13).
What to plant in Albany this month (April)
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 6
- Direct sow peas: Apr 6
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 6
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 13
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 13
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 13
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 13
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 13
- Direct sow beets: Apr 20
- Transplant kale: Apr 20
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 20
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 20
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 20
- Transplant onions: Apr 27
Coming up in early May: transplant cucumbers (May 4), transplant zucchini (May 4), transplant winter squash (May 4), direct sow beans (May 4), transplant tomatoes (May 11), transplant peppers (May 11), transplant eggplant (May 11) and transplant basil (May 11).
What to plant in Albany this month (May)
- Transplant cucumbers: May 4
- Transplant zucchini: May 4
- Transplant winter squash: May 4
- Direct sow beans: May 4
- Transplant tomatoes: May 11
- Transplant peppers: May 11
- Transplant eggplant: May 11
- Transplant basil: May 11
What to plant in Albany this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Albany in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 6.
What to plant in Albany this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Albany in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 6.
What to plant in Albany this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 6
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 6
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 20
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 27
Coming up in early September: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Sep 10).
What to plant in Albany this month (September)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 10
What to plant in Albany this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 22 to Oct 29
What to plant in Albany this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Albany in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 16.
What to plant in Albany this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Albany in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 16.
Albany planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 16 | Transplant May 11 | From Jul 28 |
| Peppers | Mar 16 | Transplant May 11 | From Jul 22 |
| Eggplant | Mar 16 | Transplant May 11 | From Jul 25 |
| Basil | Mar 30 | Transplant May 11 | From Jun 22 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 16 | Transplant Apr 27 | From Aug 5 |
| Lettuce | Mar 16 | Transplant Apr 13Fall: direct sow Aug 20 | From May 23Fall: from Sep 29 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 6Fall: direct sow Aug 27 | From May 16Fall: from Oct 6 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 6Fall: direct sow Aug 6 | From Jun 5Fall: from Oct 5 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 6Fall: direct sow Sep 10 | From May 1Fall: from Oct 5 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 13 | From Jun 22 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 20 | From Jun 14 |
| Kale | Mar 23 | Transplant Apr 20Fall: direct sow Aug 6 | From Jun 14Fall: from Sep 30 |
| Broccoli | Mar 23 | Transplant Apr 20 | From Jun 24 |
| Cabbage | Mar 23 | Transplant Apr 20 | From Jun 29 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 13 | Transplant May 4 | From Jun 28 |
| Zucchini | Apr 13 | Transplant May 4 | From Jun 23 |
| Winter squash | Apr 13 | Transplant May 4 | From Aug 2 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 4 | From Jun 28 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 20 | From Jul 9 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 22 to Oct 29 | Around Jul 20 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Albany's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Albany
Plant garlic Oct 22 to Oct 29. That is one to two weeks after Albany's average first fall frost of Oct 15, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 20 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Albany.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Albany:
- Peas: sow Aug 6, ready from about Oct 5
- Kale: sow Aug 6, ready from about Sep 30
- Lettuce: sow Aug 20, ready from about Sep 29
- Spinach: sow Aug 27, ready from about Oct 6
- Radishes: sow Sep 10, ready from about Oct 5
Nearby planting calendars
Albany planting questions
When is the last frost in Albany?
The average last spring frost in Albany is Apr 27, and the average first fall frost is Oct 15, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Albany?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 16, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 11, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Albany in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 22 to Oct 29. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 6, lettuce around Aug 20, spinach around Aug 27 and radishes around Sep 10.