First Frost

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Similarly, plants react to a variety of factors other than temperatures, such as light, humidity, soil type, and the duration of certain temperatures. It is vital to plant different varieties in areas of your garden that are best suited to them and make sure that your soil is adequately prepared and fertilized to support your plants.

When temperatures drop to a range of 29-30 degrees Fahrenheit, a ‘light freeze’ will damage delicate plants. A ‘moderate freeze’ will damage most plants in your garden except the hardiest, and it occurs with temperatures between 25-28 degrees Fahrenheit. A ‘severe freeze’ is almost always fatal to all garden plants, and it occurs when temperatures are lower than 24 degrees Fahrenheit. In many cases, this means getting plants in the ground when the average last frost date passes. This will change based on your area but is a crucial first step to ensure you enjoy a successful spring garden.It is difficult to estimate when you will experience the first or last frost of the year without using data gathered over many years by the USDA and NOAA (which we use in our tool above). Why is it important to know your frost dates as a gardener?

A hard frost happens when the nighttime temperatures drop below 28°F(–2°C) and stay at that level for at least four hours consecutively. A hard frost will penetrate the ground and will damage any non-hardy crops that you haven't harvested by then. Frost dates are important to note, as the first signs of Spring can be difficult to spot for many gardeners who are starting their seed plan. A great way to prepare for this is by understanding when to plant.

What are the 2023 Frost Dates?

The First Frost date usually occurs in fall, or sometimes late summer depending on how far north you live. It can differ from town to town based on geographical factors. The first Frost date is important in the vegetable garden calendar as this indicates the last harvest for the garden. Many vegetable plants will have already peaked and, if bearing fruit would have slowed producing any new growth. The dates in-between the last and first frost dates are days when it is safe to plant and when you should harvest your last vegetables of the season. By getting the timing right, your initial plantings will be protected from cold temperatures, ensuring they have the best chance to not only survive but thrive. Also read: How to protect plants from frost Today marks the 141st anniversary of the birth of Robert Frost, Dartmouth Class of 1896. While Frost attended the College for just one term in 1892, he remembered those fall months vividly. Frost said, “And I saw that poem there.