Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 14731 (Ellicottville, 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, Little Valley, NY (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)136 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 14731 (Ellicottville)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 14731, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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 14731 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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 17 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 31 |
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 18 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 17 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 31 | Sep 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 17 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 3 | Oct 15 |
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 14731
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Oct 1). 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 22–Apr 5 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 8–22 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 8–22 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 17 (transplant) Apr 19–May 31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 17 (transplant) Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 5–19 | May 3–24 (transplant) May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 26–May 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 12–May 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 26–May 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 19–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 19–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 19–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 19–26 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 19–26 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 5–19 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 22–Mar 8 | May 24–31 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 5–19 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) Apr 26–May 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (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: Little Valley, NY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00304808), elevation 1,625 ft, 9.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklinville, NY | 10 mi | May 14 | Oct 6 |
| Salamanca 2, NY | 11 mi | May 18 | Oct 1 |
| Allegany Sp, NY | 15 mi | May 12 | Oct 9 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 14731
When is the last frost in 14731?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 14731 is May 17. For a more cautious planting date, use May 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 14731?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 18.
What hardiness zone is 14731?
ZIP 14731 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 14731 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
14741 14171 West Valley 14729 14101 Machias 14755 Little Valley 14748 14719 Cattaraugus 14737 Franklinville
Other ZIP codes in Cattaraugus County
14041 14042 14065 14070 14101 14129 14138 14168 14171 14173 14706 14719 14726 14729 14737 14741 14743 14748 14753 14755 14760 14772 14778 14779 All Cattaraugus County frost dates · New York frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.