Frost dates for Desert Nwr, NV
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
March 22
typical year
Safe to plant
April 13
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 7
typical year
Growing season
229 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | – |
| Spinach | – | Feb 8 – Mar 1 | Sep 12 – 26 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 22 – Mar 15 | Sep 12 – 26 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 22 – Apr 5 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Onions | – | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Mar 1 – 15 | – |
| Carrots | – | Mar 1 – 22 | Aug 15 – 29 |
| Beets | – | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Aug 29 – Sep 12 |
| Kale | Jan 11 – 25 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Aug 29 – Sep 12 |
| Broccoli | Jan 11 – 25 | Mar 8 – 22 | Aug 29 – Sep 12 |
| Cabbage | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Aug 29 – Sep 12 |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 26 – Oct 17 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 13 – 27 | – |
| Peppers | Feb 9 – 23 | Apr 20 – May 4 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Apr 13 – May 4 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Apr 13 – May 11 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Apr 13 – May 4 | – |
| Green beans | – | Apr 13 – Aug 29 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 13 – May 11 | – |
| Basil | Mar 9 – 23 | Apr 20 – 27 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | April 13 | March 22 | February 28 |
| Fall frost before | October 21 | November 7 | November 22 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around March 1 (March 25 in a late year), and the first one in fall around November 19.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station DESERT NWR, NV US (USC00262243), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 4 zip codes, all within 19 miles:
89018, 89070, 89143, 89166
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.