In Syracuse, the average last spring frost is May 1 and the average first fall frost is Oct 19, a growing season of about 171 days (zone 6a). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 20 and move them outside from May 15. Plant garlic Oct 26 to Nov 2, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Syracuse at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 1 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 19 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 171 days
- Hardiness zone
- 6a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Syracuse Hancock Intl AP, NY; Brewerton Lock 23, NY; and Fulton, 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 Syracuse this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Syracuse in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 20.
What to plant in Syracuse this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 20
What to plant in Syracuse this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 20
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 20
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 20
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 20
- Start kale indoors: Mar 27
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 27
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 27
Coming up in early April: start basil indoors (Apr 3), direct sow spinach (Apr 10), direct sow peas (Apr 10) and direct sow radishes (Apr 10).
What to plant in Syracuse this month (April)
- Start basil indoors: Apr 3
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 10
- Direct sow peas: Apr 10
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 10
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 17
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 17
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 17
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 17
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 17
- Direct sow beets: Apr 24
- Transplant kale: Apr 24
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 24
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 24
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 24
Coming up in early May: transplant onions (May 1), transplant cucumbers (May 8), transplant zucchini (May 8), transplant winter squash (May 8) and direct sow beans (May 8).
What to plant in Syracuse this month (May)
- Transplant onions: May 1
- Transplant cucumbers: May 8
- Transplant zucchini: May 8
- Transplant winter squash: May 8
- Direct sow beans: May 8
- Transplant tomatoes: May 15
- Transplant peppers: May 15
- Transplant eggplant: May 15
- Transplant basil: May 15
What to plant in Syracuse this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Syracuse in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 10.
What to plant in Syracuse this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Syracuse in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 10.
What to plant in Syracuse this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 10
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 10
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 24
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 31
Coming up in early September: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Sep 14).
What to plant in Syracuse this month (September)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 14
What to plant in Syracuse this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 26 to Nov 2
What to plant in Syracuse this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Oct 26 to Nov 2
What to plant in Syracuse this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Syracuse in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 20.
Syracuse planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 20 | Transplant May 15 | From Aug 1 |
| Peppers | Mar 20 | Transplant May 15 | From Jul 26 |
| Eggplant | Mar 20 | Transplant May 15 | From Jul 29 |
| Basil | Apr 3 | Transplant May 15 | From Jun 26 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 20 | Transplant May 1 | From Aug 9 |
| Lettuce | Mar 20 | Transplant Apr 17Fall: direct sow Aug 24 | From May 27Fall: from Oct 3 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 10Fall: direct sow Aug 31 | From May 20Fall: from Oct 10 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 10Fall: direct sow Aug 10 | From Jun 9Fall: from Oct 9 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 10Fall: direct sow Sep 14 | From May 5Fall: from Oct 9 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 17 | From Jun 26 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 24 | From Jun 18 |
| Kale | Mar 27 | Transplant Apr 24Fall: direct sow Aug 10 | From Jun 18Fall: from Oct 4 |
| Broccoli | Mar 27 | Transplant Apr 24 | From Jun 28 |
| Cabbage | Mar 27 | Transplant Apr 24 | From Jul 3 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 17 | Transplant May 8 | From Jul 2 |
| Zucchini | Apr 17 | Transplant May 8 | From Jun 27 |
| Winter squash | Apr 17 | Transplant May 8 | From Aug 6 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 8 | From Jul 2 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 24 | From Jul 13 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 26 to Nov 2 | Around Jul 24 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Syracuse'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 Syracuse
Plant garlic Oct 26 to Nov 2. That is one to two weeks after Syracuse's average first fall frost of Oct 19, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 24 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Syracuse.
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 Syracuse:
- Peas: sow Aug 10, ready from about Oct 9
- Kale: sow Aug 10, ready from about Oct 4
- Lettuce: sow Aug 24, ready from about Oct 3
- Spinach: sow Aug 31, ready from about Oct 10
- Radishes: sow Sep 14, ready from about Oct 9
Nearby planting calendars
Syracuse planting questions
When is the last frost in Syracuse?
The average last spring frost in Syracuse is May 1, and the average first fall frost is Oct 19, 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 Syracuse?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 20, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 15, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Syracuse in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 26 to Nov 2. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 10, lettuce around Aug 24, spinach around Aug 31 and radishes around Sep 14.