Frost dates for Newport State, RI
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
April 11
typical year
Safe to plant
April 24
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 4
typical year
Growing season
206 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 | – | Mar 14 – 28 | – |
| Spinach | – | Feb 28 – Mar 21 | Sep 9 – 23 |
| Lettuce | – | Mar 14 – Apr 4 | Sep 9 – 23 |
| Radishes | – | Mar 14 – Apr 25 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Onions | – | Mar 14 – 28 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | – |
| Carrots | – | Mar 21 – Apr 11 | Aug 12 – 26 |
| Beets | – | Mar 14 – 28 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Kale | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 14 – 28 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Broccoli | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Cabbage | Jan 17 – 31 | Mar 14 – 28 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 23 – Oct 14 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 | – |
| Peppers | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 1 – 15 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Apr 24 – May 15 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Apr 24 – May 22 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Apr 24 – May 15 | – |
| Green beans | – | Apr 24 – Aug 26 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 24 – May 22 | – |
| Basil | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 1 – 8 | – |
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 24 | April 11 | March 31 |
| Fall frost before | October 22 | November 4 | November 17 |
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 31 (April 10 in a late year), and the first one in fall around November 16.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station NEWPORT STATE AP, RI US (USW00014787), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 3 zip codes, all within 6 miles:
02837, 02842, 02872
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.