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Seed Starting Calendar for Vermont

Median last frost from Apr 30 to May 25 across Vermont

NOAA stations
41
Median last frost, Burlington
Apr 29
Passed in 9 of 10 years
May 11
Last frost

Last spring frost dates in Vermont

Burlington on Lake Champlain reaches its median last frost around Apr 29, while Bennington, Springfield, Newport and Montpelier all wait until the middle of May.

Three dates per station from the NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals. The median is the date half of springs run past. The last column is the date the last 32°F night has passed by in 9 years out of 10, the one to hold tender transplants for.

StationElevationEarly (1 in 10 years later than this)Median last frostPassed in 9 of 10 yearsMedian first fall frost
BurlingtonBurlington Intl Airport, USW00014742330 ftApr 17Apr 29May 11Oct 15
Bennington Morse St AirportBennington Morse St Airport, USW00054781826 ftApr 26May 11May 28Oct 2
Springfield Hartness AirportSpringfield Hartness Airport, USW00054740578 ftApr 28May 13May 28Oct 3
NewportNewport, USC00435542790 ftMay 1May 14May 28Sep 30
MontpelierBarre Montpelier Airport, USW000947051,126 ftMay 2May 16May 30Sep 29
Crop chart

When to start seeds in Vermont, spring 2027

Counted back from the median last frost at Burlington, April 29. Pick another station to redraw the chart for it.

Seed starting calendar for Burlington, Vermont, spring 2027JanFebMarAprMayOnion (from seed)Onion (from seed): start indoors Jan 21 to Feb 4Onion (from seed): harden off Mar 18 to Apr 1Onion (from seed): set out Apr 1 to Apr 8PepperPepper: start indoors Mar 4 to Mar 18Pepper: harden off Apr 29 to May 13Pepper: set out May 13 to May 20EggplantEggplant: start indoors Mar 4 to Mar 18Eggplant: harden off Apr 29 to May 13Eggplant: set out May 13 to May 20TomatoTomato: start indoors Mar 11 to Mar 25Tomato: harden off Apr 22 to May 6Tomato: set out May 6 to May 13BroccoliBroccoli: start indoors Feb 18 to Mar 4Broccoli: harden off Mar 18 to Apr 1Broccoli: set out Apr 1 to Apr 15CabbageCabbage: start indoors Feb 18 to Mar 4Cabbage: harden off Mar 18 to Apr 1Cabbage: set out Apr 1 to Apr 8LettuceLettuce: start indoors Feb 25 to Mar 4Lettuce: harden off Mar 18 to Apr 1Lettuce: set out Apr 1 to Apr 8BasilBasil: start indoors Mar 18 to Apr 1Basil: harden off Apr 29 to May 13Basil: set out May 13 to May 20CucumberCucumber: start indoors Apr 8 to Apr 15Cucumber: harden off Apr 22 to May 6Cucumber: set out May 6 to May 13Cucumber: sow outdoors Apr 29 to May 6Summer squashSummer squash: start indoors Apr 15 to Apr 22Summer squash: harden off Apr 29 to May 13Summer squash: set out May 13 to May 20Summer squash: sow outdoors Apr 29 to May 6PeasPeas: sow outdoors Apr 1 to Apr 15CarrotCarrot: sow outdoors Apr 15 to Apr 29BeansBeans: sow outdoors Apr 29 to May 6Sweet cornSweet corn: sow outdoors Apr 29 to May 6Median last frost Apr 299 in 10 years May 11
Start indoorsHarden offSet outSow outdoorsMedian last frostLast freeze passed in 9 of 10 years
Every crop, counted from a median last frost of April 29
CropStart indoorsSet outSow outdoorsFrost class
TomatoMar 11 to Mar 25May 6 to May 13Tender, very tender
PepperMar 4 to Mar 18May 13 to May 20Tender, very tender
EggplantMar 4 to Mar 18May 13 to May 20Tender, very tender
BasilMar 18 to Apr 1May 13 to May 20Tender
CeleryFeb 4 to Feb 18Apr 29 to May 6Tender
CucumberApr 8 to Apr 15May 6 to May 13Apr 29 to May 6Tender
Summer squashApr 15 to Apr 22May 13 to May 20Apr 29 to May 6Tender
Winter squashApr 15 to Apr 22May 13 to May 20May 13 to May 20Tender, very tender
PumpkinApr 15 to Apr 22May 13 to May 20May 13 to May 20Tender, very tender
Melon (cantaloupe)Apr 15 to Apr 22May 13 to May 20Tender, very tender
WatermelonApr 8 to Apr 22May 13 to May 20Tender, very tender
Onion (from seed)Jan 21 to Feb 4Apr 1 to Apr 8Hardy
LeekJan 21 to Feb 4Apr 1 to Apr 8Hardy
ParsleyJan 28 to Feb 4Apr 8 to Apr 15Half-hardy
BroccoliFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 1 to Apr 15Hardy
Brussels sproutsFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 1 to Apr 15Hardy
CabbageFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 1 to Apr 8Hardy
CauliflowerMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 15 to Apr 22Half-hardy
KaleFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 1 to Apr 8Hardy
LettuceFeb 25 to Mar 4Apr 1 to Apr 8Hardy
Swiss chardMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 15 to Apr 22Apr 1 to Apr 8Half-hardy
SpinachFeb 4 to Feb 18Mar 18 to Apr 8Apr 1 to Apr 15Hardy
PeasApr 1 to Apr 15Hardy
RadishApr 1 to Apr 15Hardy
CarrotApr 15 to Apr 29Half-hardy
BeetApr 15 to Apr 29Half-hardy
BeansApr 29 to May 6Tender
Sweet cornApr 29 to May 6Tender
Six square pots of dark compost seen from above, each holding a single seedling with two narrow seed leaves
Tomato seedlings at the seed leaf stage, one to a pot. The University of Minnesota Extension holds off on fertilizer until a seedling has several sets of true leaves, then feeds at quarter strength once a week. “Tomato Seedlings (49768696597)” by Amanda Slater from Coventry, West Midlands, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
Extension guide

What University of Vermont Extension advises

University of Vermont Extension publishes the planting guide Vermont gardeners work from, Planting the Garden.

“One of the ways to determine when to plant veggies is based on their hardiness or their ability to withstand frost and cold temperatures.”
University of Vermont Extension, Planting the Garden, quoted exactly.
“Tender vegetables can be planted on or after the frost-free date. Beans, sweet corn, and summer squash can be planted from seed. Tomatoes transplants can be planted.”
University of Vermont Extension, on tomato, quoted exactly.
“Warm-loving vegetables can be planted one to two weeks after the frost-free date. Warm-loving vegetables need warm temperatures and warm soil before planting. Vining crops like watermelon, cucumbers, pumpkins and cantaloupe can be planted. Pepper, eggplant and sweet potatoes should also be planted.”
University of Vermont Extension, on pepper, quoted exactly.
“Vining crops like watermelon, cucumbers, pumpkins and cantaloupe can be planted. Pepper, eggplant and sweet potatoes should also be planted.”
University of Vermont Extension, on eggplant, quoted exactly.
“Very hardy vegetables can be planted four to six weeks before the frost-free date in the spring. Potato tubers and onion sets can be planted. Asparagus, broccoli and cabbage can be planted as transplants.”
University of Vermont Extension, on broccoli, quoted exactly.
A gardener kneeling beside a raised bed setting a young tomato plant into dark soil, an empty nursery pot beside her
Setting out a tomato in June at a community garden. Tender crops go out after the last frost, and after a week or two of hardening off outdoors. “Volunteer planting heirloom tomato (4704185147)”, Pacific Southwest Region 5, Public domain

Seed starting questions for Vermont

Frost dates from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, annual/seasonal, by station (v1.0.1). Planting guidance from University of Vermont Extension, quoted exactly. Seed starting weeks from UNH Cooperative Extension. Compiled 2026-09-21.

First frost in VermontThe other end of the season: when fall frost ends the tender crops.Soil temperatureBeans, corn and squash sown direct wait on warm soil as well as the last frost.Vermont lawn care calendarSpring seeding, feeding and mowing dates on the same climate.Fall planting calendarGarlic, cool season crops and a second sowing window in the fall.Frost dates by ZIPFirst and last frost odds for any address.

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