Frost dates for ZIP 05903 (Canaan, VT)
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, Colebrook 3SW, NH (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)112 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4a-30 to -25°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 05903 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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 31 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 14 |
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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 2 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 10 | Sep 7 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 31 | Sep 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 17 | Oct 1 |
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 05903
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 31) and first fall frost (Sep 21). 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 5–19 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 5–19 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 5–19 | May 10–31 (transplant) May 3–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 5–19 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) Jun 15–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 5–19 | May 3–31 (transplant) May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) Jun 15–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 5–19 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 19–May 3 | May 17–Jun 7 (transplant) May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 10–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 26–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 1–15 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 21–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 3–10 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 3–10 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 3–10 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 3–10 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 3–10 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 19–May 3 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 8–22 | Jun 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 19–May 3 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (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: Colebrook 3SW, NH (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00271647), elevation 1,120 ft, 5.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Averill, VT | 7 mi | May 25 | Sep 22 |
| Island Pond AP, VT | 15 mi | May 16 | Sep 28 |
| Island Pond, VT | 17 mi | May 19 | Sep 29 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 05903
When is the last frost in 05903?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 05903 is May 31. For a more cautious planting date, use June 14, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 05903?
The average first fall freeze is September 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 7.
What hardiness zone is 05903?
ZIP 05903 is in USDA zone 4a (-30 to -25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 05903 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
05901 05902 Beecher Falls 03576 Colebrook 05907 05846 Island Pond 03590 03597 West Stewartstown 05905
Other ZIP codes in Essex County
05824 05837 05840 05846 05858 05901 05902 05904 05905 05906 05907 All Essex County frost dates · Vermont frost dates
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