Fall in zone 4bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 12997 (Wilmington, 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, Lake Placid 2 S, NY (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)118 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4b-25 to -20°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 47°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Mount Mansfield (53 mi).
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 12997 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring 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.
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) | May 10 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 27 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 7 |
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) | Sep 8 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 22 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 5 | Sep 8 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 27 | Sep 22 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 13 | Oct 3 |
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 12997
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 27) and first fall frost (Sep 22). 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 | Apr 1–15 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 1–15 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 1–15 | May 6–27 (transplant) Apr 29–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 28 (transplant) Jun 16–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 27 (transplant) Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 28 (transplant) Jun 16–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 16–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 16–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 16–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 2–23 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 15–29 | May 13–Jun 3 (transplant) May 13–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 22–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 2–16 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 17–Jul 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 17–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 15–29 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 4–18 | Jun 3–10 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 15–29 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 13–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (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: Lake Placid 2 S, NY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00304555), elevation 1,888 ft, 6.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Brook, NY | 12 mi | May 21 | Sep 24 |
| Saranac Rgnl AP, NY | 16 mi | Jun 2 | Sep 9 |
| Peru 2 WSW, NY | 21 mi | May 4 | Oct 4 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 29 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 12997
When is the last frost in 12997?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 12997 is May 27. For a more cautious planting date, use June 7, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 12997?
The average first fall freeze is September 22. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 8.
What hardiness zone is 12997?
ZIP 12997 is in USDA zone 4b (-25 to -20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 12997 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
12987 12913 12942 12912 Au Sable Forks 12941 12977 12983 Saranac Lake 12946 Lake Placid
Other ZIP codes in Essex County
12851 12852 12855 12857 12858 12870 12872 12883 12928 12932 12936 12941 12942 12943 12944 12946 12950 12956 12960 12961 12964 12974 12975 12977 All Essex County frost dates · New York frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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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.