In Rochester, the average last spring frost is Apr 28 and the average first fall frost is Oct 20, a growing season of about 175 days (zone 6a). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 17 and move them outside from May 12. Plant garlic Oct 27 to Nov 3, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Rochester at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Apr 28 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 20 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 175 days
- Hardiness zone
- 6a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Rochester Gtr Intl AP, NY; Victor 2NW, NY; and Webster 2 NE, 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 Rochester this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Rochester in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 17.
What to plant in Rochester this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 17
What to plant in Rochester this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 17
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 17
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 17
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 17
- Start kale indoors: Mar 24
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 24
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 24
- Start basil indoors: Mar 31
Coming up in early April: direct sow spinach (Apr 7), direct sow peas (Apr 7), direct sow radishes (Apr 7), transplant lettuce (Apr 14), direct sow carrots (Apr 14), start cucumbers indoors (Apr 14), start zucchini indoors (Apr 14) and start winter squash indoors (Apr 14).
What to plant in Rochester this month (April)
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 7
- Direct sow peas: Apr 7
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 7
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 14
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 14
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 14
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 14
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 14
- Direct sow beets: Apr 21
- Transplant kale: Apr 21
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 21
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 21
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 21
- Transplant onions: Apr 28
Coming up in early May: transplant cucumbers (May 5), transplant zucchini (May 5), transplant winter squash (May 5), direct sow beans (May 5), transplant tomatoes (May 12), transplant peppers (May 12), transplant eggplant (May 12) and transplant basil (May 12).
What to plant in Rochester this month (May)
- Transplant cucumbers: May 5
- Transplant zucchini: May 5
- Transplant winter squash: May 5
- Direct sow beans: May 5
- Transplant tomatoes: May 12
- Transplant peppers: May 12
- Transplant eggplant: May 12
- Transplant basil: May 12
What to plant in Rochester this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Rochester in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 11.
What to plant in Rochester this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Rochester in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 11.
What to plant in Rochester this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 11
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 11
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 25
Coming up in early September: sow spinach for a fall harvest (Sep 1).
What to plant in Rochester this month (September)
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Sep 1
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 15
What to plant in Rochester this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 27 to Nov 3
What to plant in Rochester this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Oct 27 to Nov 3
What to plant in Rochester this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Rochester in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 17.
Rochester planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 | Transplant May 12 | From Jul 29 |
| Peppers | Mar 17 | Transplant May 12 | From Jul 23 |
| Eggplant | Mar 17 | Transplant May 12 | From Jul 26 |
| Basil | Mar 31 | Transplant May 12 | From Jun 23 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 17 | Transplant Apr 28 | From Aug 6 |
| Lettuce | Mar 17 | Transplant Apr 14Fall: direct sow Aug 25 | From May 24Fall: from Oct 4 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 7Fall: direct sow Sep 1 | From May 17Fall: from Oct 11 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 7Fall: direct sow Aug 11 | From Jun 6Fall: from Oct 10 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 7Fall: direct sow Sep 15 | From May 2Fall: from Oct 10 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 14 | From Jun 23 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 21 | From Jun 15 |
| Kale | Mar 24 | Transplant Apr 21Fall: direct sow Aug 11 | From Jun 15Fall: from Oct 5 |
| Broccoli | Mar 24 | Transplant Apr 21 | From Jun 25 |
| Cabbage | Mar 24 | Transplant Apr 21 | From Jun 30 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 14 | Transplant May 5 | From Jun 29 |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 | Transplant May 5 | From Jun 24 |
| Winter squash | Apr 14 | Transplant May 5 | From Aug 3 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 5 | From Jun 29 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 21 | From Jul 10 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 27 to Nov 3 | Around Jul 21 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Rochester'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 Rochester
Plant garlic Oct 27 to Nov 3. That is one to two weeks after Rochester's average first fall frost of Oct 20, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 21 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Rochester.
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 Rochester:
- Peas: sow Aug 11, ready from about Oct 10
- Kale: sow Aug 11, ready from about Oct 5
- Lettuce: sow Aug 25, ready from about Oct 4
- Spinach: sow Sep 1, ready from about Oct 11
- Radishes: sow Sep 15, ready from about Oct 10
Nearby planting calendars
Rochester planting questions
When is the last frost in Rochester?
The average last spring frost in Rochester is Apr 28, and the average first fall frost is Oct 20, 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 Rochester?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 17, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 12, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Rochester in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 27 to Nov 3. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 11, lettuce around Aug 25, spinach around Sep 1 and radishes around Sep 15.