Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 12204 (Menands, 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, Troy L&d, NY (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)190 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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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
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Lye Brook (43 mi).
4-inch depth
50°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Lye Brook (43 mi).
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 12204 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 50°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically 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.
Your average first frost is Oct 26: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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) | Apr 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 3 |
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) | Oct 11 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 1 | Oct 13 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 19 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 7 | Nov 6 |
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 12204
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 26). 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 | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 29–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 22–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 8–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 8–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 8–22 | Apr 5–26 (transplant) Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 15–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 22–29 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 22–29 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Apr 26–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 8–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (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: Troy L&d, NY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00308600), elevation 15 ft, 4.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany AP, NY | 5 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 15 |
| Grafton, NY | 15 mi | May 1 | Oct 11 |
| Valatie 1 N, NY | 18 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 14 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 12204
When is the last frost in 12204?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 12204 is April 19. For a more cautious planting date, use May 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 12204?
The average first fall freeze is October 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 11.
What hardiness zone is 12204?
ZIP 12204 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 12204 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
12211 Loudonville 12207 Albany 12210 Albany 12206 Albany 12189 Watervliet 12226 Albany 12202 Albany 12183 Green Island
Other ZIP codes in Albany County
12007 12009 12023 12041 12045 12046 12047 12054 12059 12067 12077 12084 12085 12110 12120 12143 12147 12158 12159 12161 12183 12186 12189 12193 All Albany County frost dates · New York frost dates
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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.