Calendars by city / NY
New York City (Central Park), New York vegetable planting calendar
Planting windows for New York City (Central Park), New York built from the NOAA 1991–2020 freeze normals at NY CITY CENTRAL PARK, NY US (station USW00094728), not from a hardiness zone.
New York City (Central Park), New York planting dates for 27 vegetables
The same windows as a table
Each row applies a published extension rule to the frost dates above. Hardy crops go out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; semi-hardy crops 0–2 weeks before; tender crops around the frost date; very tender crops 2 or more weeks after. The last fall planting date counts the crop's days to harvest back from the first fall frost. The rules and their sources are on the methodology page.
| Crop | Frost class | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Last fall planting | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beets | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Sep 26 | 60 |
| Broccoli | Hardy | Jan 14 – Feb 11 | Transplant: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Sep 28 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Cabbage | Hardy | Jan 14 – Feb 11 | Transplant: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Sep 8 | 85 (from transplant) |
| Carrots | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Sep 16 | 70 |
| Cauliflower | Semi-hardy | Jan 28 – Feb 25 | Transplant: Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Sep 21 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Oct 13 | 50 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Oct 3 | 60 |
| Onions (green) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Oct 3 | 60 |
| Onions (dry, from seed) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Aug 14 | 110 |
| Onions (dry, from sets) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Plant sets: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Aug 14 | 110 |
| Parsnips | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Sep 16 | 70 |
| Peas | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Sep 28 | 65 |
| Potatoes | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Plant seed potatoes: Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Jul 23 | 125 |
| Radishes | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Nov 2 | 30 |
| Spinach | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Oct 23 | 40 |
| Swiss chard | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Sep 26 | 60 |
| Turnips | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Oct 13 | 50 |
| Snap beans | Tender | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Apr 1 – Apr 8 | Sep 19 | 60 |
| Cantaloupe | Very tender | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Aug 25 | 85 |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Apr 1 – Apr 8 | Aug 20 | 60–90 |
| Cucumbers | Tender | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 1 – Apr 8 | Sep 24 | 55 |
| Eggplant | Very tender | Feb 11 – Mar 18 | Transplant: Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Sep 19 | 60 (from transplant) |
| Peppers | Very tender | Feb 18 – Mar 18 | Transplant: Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Sep 9 | 70 (from transplant) |
| Tomatoes | Very tender | Feb 25 – Mar 25 | Transplant: Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Sep 14 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Summer squash | Tender | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 1 – Apr 8 | Sep 29 | 50 |
| Winter squash | Very tender | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Aug 10 | 100 |
| Watermelon | Very tender | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Aug 25 | 85 |
What the New York City (Central Park), New York frost-free season means for your choices
At 231 frost-free days, New York City (Central Park), New York gardeners should compare that number to the days-to-harvest column before buying seed. A crop whose days to harvest plus its transplant age is close to the season length needs either an early start indoors or a short-season variety.
- Hardy crops (peas, spinach, radishes, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage) can go in from about Mar 4 – Mar 18 and again for fall.
- Very tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, winter squash) should wait until Apr 15 – Apr 29; start tomato seeds indoors Feb 25 – Mar 25.
- Fall sowing is worthwhile only for the rows that show a separate fall date; for the others the spring window already covers the season.
New York City planting questions
When is the last frost in New York City (Central Park), New York?
The 50% probability date for the last spring 32°F reading at NY CITY CENTRAL PARK, NY US is Apr 1, from the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. In half the years on that record the last frost came later than that date, so tender crops are safer a week or two after it. The last 28°F hard freeze averages Mar 22.
When can I plant tomatoes in New York City (Central Park), New York?
Tomatoes are a very tender crop, so the Colorado State Extension rule puts them out 2 or more weeks after the last spring frost: Apr 15 – Apr 29 in New York City (Central Park), New York. Start the seeds indoors Feb 25 – Mar 25, which is 5 to 7 weeks before that transplant window.
How long is the growing season in New York City (Central Park), New York?
New York City (Central Park), New York averages 231 frost-free days, between the 50% last spring frost on Apr 1 and the 50% first fall frost on Nov 18 at NY CITY CENTRAL PARK, NY US. Check a variety's days to harvest against that number before buying seed.
When should I start seeds indoors in New York City (Central Park), New York?
The earliest indoor sowing on this calendar is broccoli and cabbage at Jan 14 – Feb 11. Hardy crops are transplanted out Mar 4 – Mar 18 here, and each crop's indoor window is simply its outdoor window minus the transplant age published by Colorado State Extension, so nothing starts earlier than that.
What can I plant in fall in New York City (Central Park), New York?
The crops with a separate fall sowing here, latest first, are radishes, spinach, kohlrabi, turnips, lettuce (leaf) and onions (green), plus 21 more on the chart above. Each fall date counts the crop's days to harvest back from the first fall frost on Nov 18, plus an allowance for frost-tolerant crops that is our own assumption, not the source's.
Station data and limitations
| NOAA station | NY CITY CENTRAL PARK, NY US (USW00094728) |
|---|---|
| Location | 40.7889, -73.9669 · elevation 39.6 m |
| Last spring 32°F / 28°F (50%) | Apr 1 / Mar 22 |
| First fall 32°F / 28°F (50%) | Nov 18 / Nov 30 |
| Dataset | NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal product, data types ANN-TMIN-PRBLST/PRBFST-T32FP50 and T28FP50 |
| Retrieved | 2026-10-16 |
The normals describe the airport station, not your yard. They are averages of a 30-year record and say nothing about this year's weather. Watch the local forecast around the dates shown, and use soil temperature for warm-season crops, which the Colorado State guide treats as the better signal.
Nearby calendars
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — last spring frost Apr 2
- Hartford, Connecticut — last spring frost Apr 24
- Albany, New York — last spring frost Apr 28
- Boston, Massachusetts — last spring frost Apr 6
Read the method behind these dates: last frost date vs hardiness zone.