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Frost dates for ZIP 11790 (Stony Brook, 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, Setauket Strong, NY (4 miles away).

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

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 11790 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

  • Garlic: fall sowing Sep 29–Oct 27
  • Shallot: fall sowing Sep 29–Oct 27

Prune now

No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.

Your average first frost is Nov 10: 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.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLight blue: spring freeze risk (90% to 10%). Tan: fall freeze risk (10% to 90%). Dark lines: 50% dates.

Last spring frost odds

Chance of a 32°F freeze after this dateDate
90% (early: most years still freeze after this)Apr 1
50% (the "average" last frost)Apr 15
10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later)May 4

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 dateDate
10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon)Oct 27
50% (the "average" first frost)Nov 10
90% (late: most years have frozen by now)Nov 24

Light frost, freeze and hard freeze

ThresholdLast spring (50%)First fall (50%)
36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights)Apr 30Oct 29
32°F (freeze)Apr 15Nov 10
28°F (hard freeze)Mar 31Nov 21

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 11790

Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Nov 10). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.

Start seeds indoorsSpring plantingFall plantingLast frostFirst frostJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTomatoPepperEggplantTomatilloLettuceSpinachKaleCollardsBroccoliCabbageCauliflowerBrussels sproutsKohlrabiBok choy / Asian greensArugulaMustard greensSwiss chardBeetCarrotRadishTurnipParsnipPeaOnionGreen onion / scallionLeekGarlicShallotPotatoSweet potatoSweet cornBean, bushBean, poleLima beanSouthern peaCucumberSummer squash / zucchiniWinter squashPumpkinWatermelonCantaloupe / muskmelonOkraCeleryBasilCilantroParsleyDillSunflowerAsparagusRhubarbStrawberry
CropStart indoorsSpring plantingFall planting
TomatoFeb 18–Mar 4Apr 22–May 6 (transplant)–
Pepper (sweet and hot)Feb 4–18Apr 29–May 13 (transplant)–
EggplantFeb 4–18Apr 29–May 13 (transplant)–
TomatilloFeb 18–Mar 4Apr 22–May 6 (transplant)–
LettuceFeb 18–Mar 4Mar 25–Apr 15 (transplant)
Mar 18–Apr 29 (sow outdoors)
Sep 15–Oct 6 (transplant)
Sep 1–29 (sowing)
Spinach–Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors)Sep 15–Oct 6 (sowing)
KaleFeb 18–Mar 4Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant)
Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors)
Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant)
Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing)
CollardsFeb 18–Mar 4Mar 18–Apr 15 (transplant)
Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors)
Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant)
Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing)
BroccoliFeb 4–18Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant)Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant)
CabbageFeb 4–18Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant)Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant)
CauliflowerFeb 4–18Apr 1–15 (transplant)Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant)
Brussels sproutsJan 21–Feb 4Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant)Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant)
KohlrabiFeb 18–Mar 4Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant)
Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors)
Sep 1–15 (sowing)
Bok choy / Asian greens–Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors)Sep 15–29 (sowing)
Arugula–Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors)Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing)
Mustard greens–Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors)Sep 15–29 (sowing)
Swiss chardMar 4–18Apr 1–22 (transplant)
Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors)
Sep 1–15 (sowing)
Beet–Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors)Sep 1–15 (sowing)
Carrot–Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors)Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing)
Radish–Mar 11–Apr 22 (sow outdoors)Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing)
Turnip–Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors)Sep 1–15 (sowing)
Parsnip–Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors)–
Pea (garden, snap, snow)–Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors)Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing)
Onion (bulbing)Jan 21–Feb 4Mar 4–18 (transplant)–
Green onion / scallion–Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors)Sep 1–15 (sowing)
LeekJan 21–Feb 4Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant)–
Garlic––Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing)
Shallot–Mar 4–18 (transplant)Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing)
Potato–Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant)Jul 21–Aug 4 (transplant)
Sweet potato–May 6–20 (transplant)–
Sweet corn–Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors)–
Bean, bush (snap)–Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors)–
Bean, pole–Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors)–
Lima bean–Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors)–
Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea)–May 6–27 (sow outdoors)–
CucumberMar 18–25Apr 22–May 6 (transplant)
Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors)
–
Summer squash / zucchiniMar 18–25Apr 22–May 6 (transplant)
Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors)
–
Winter squashMar 18–25Apr 22–May 6 (transplant)
Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors)
–
Pumpkin–Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors)–
WatermelonMar 18–25Apr 29–May 13 (transplant)
Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors)
–
Cantaloupe / muskmelonMar 18–25Apr 29–May 13 (transplant)
Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors)
–
OkraMar 4–18Apr 29–May 13 (transplant)
Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors)
–
CeleryJan 21–Feb 4Apr 22–29 (transplant)–
BasilMar 4–18Apr 22–May 6 (transplant)
Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors)
–
Cilantro–Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors)Sep 15–29 (sowing)
ParsleyFeb 4–18Apr 1–15 (transplant)
Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors)
–
Dill–Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors)Sep 15–29 (sowing)
Sunflower–Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors)–
Asparagus (crowns)–Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant)–
Rhubarb (crowns)–Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant)–
Strawberry (plants)–Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant)Sep 1–29 (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: Setauket Strong, NY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00307633), elevation 40 ft, 3.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).

Nearby stations

StationDistanceLast frost (50%)First frost (50%)
Mt Sinai, NY6 miApr 4Nov 7
Islip Li Macarthur AP, NY8 miApr 10Nov 2
Centerport, NY13 miApr 9Nov 10

The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.

Frost questions for 11790

When is the last frost in 11790?

The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 11790 is April 15. For a more cautious planting date, use May 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.

When is the first frost in 11790?

The average first fall freeze is November 10. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 27.

What hardiness zone is 11790?

ZIP 11790 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.

What is the soil temperature in 11790 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

11794 Stony Brook University 11780 St. James 11733 East Setauket 11755 Lake Grove 11720 Centereach 11767 Nesconset 11776 Terryville 11777 Port Jefferson

Other ZIP codes in Suffolk County

06390 11701 11702 11703 11704 11705 11706 11713 11715 11716 11717 11718 11719 11720 11721 11722 11724 11725 11726 11727 11729 11730 11731 11733 All Suffolk County frost dates · New York frost dates