Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 12170 (Stillwater, 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, Saratoga Springs 4 SW, NY (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)158 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°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 46°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Lye Brook (32 mi).
4-inch depth
50°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Lye Brook (32 mi).
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 12170 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 50°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically 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) | Apr 21 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 2 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 17 |
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 27 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 25 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 15 | Sep 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 2 | Oct 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 20 | Oct 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 12170
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 7). 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 | Mar 7–21 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 21–Mar 7 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 21–Mar 7 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 7–21 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 7–21 | Apr 11–May 2 (transplant) Apr 4–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–Aug 12 (transplant) Jul 1–29 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 7–21 | Apr 4–May 2 (transplant) Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–Aug 12 (transplant) Jul 1–29 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 1–29 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 17–Jul 8 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 9 (transplant) Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–29 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 28–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–29 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 7–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 17–Jul 1 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 23–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 4–11 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 4–11 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 4–11 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 4–11 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 4–11 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 7–21 | May 9–16 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (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: Saratoga Springs 4 SW, NY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00307484), elevation 326 ft, 8.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buskirk, NY | 13 mi | May 6 | Oct 6 |
| Troy L&d, NY | 17 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 26 |
| Grafton, NY | 18 mi | May 1 | Oct 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 18 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 12170
When is the last frost in 12170?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 12170 is May 2. For a more cautious planting date, use May 17, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 12170?
The average first fall freeze is October 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 27.
What hardiness zone is 12170?
ZIP 12170 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 12170 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
12154 Schaghticoke 12118 Mechanicville 12866 Saratoga Springs 12871 Schuylerville 12884 Victory 12151 Round Lake 12020 Milton 12834 Greenwich
Other ZIP codes in Saratoga County
12019 12020 12027 12065 12074 12086 12118 12148 12151 12188 12803 12822 12831 12833 12835 12850 12859 12863 12866 12871 12884 All Saratoga County frost dates · New York frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.