Find the real planting boundary before you commit seed trays, transplants, or warm-season crops.
Turn last and first frost dates into frost-free days and seasonal planting windows.
What this tool decides
Decides whether your season is long enough for tender crops or better suited to transplants and cool-season timing.
Step 1
Set your inputs
Step 2
Calculate the number
Step 3
Read the plan
Timing inputs
Diagnostic panel
Frost-free season
198 days
Enough runway for tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, and most warm-season annuals.
Cool start
Mar 18
Tender start
Apr 29
Fall reset
Aug 7
Season timeline
Read the plan
What it means
A longer frost-free window supports direct-seeded warm crops; a short window pushes you toward transplants and fast-maturing varieties.
Next action
Use the season length to choose crops first, then move into the seed starting calculator for exact sowing dates.
Risk note
Average frost dates are planning anchors, not guarantees. Protect tender plants when a late cold night is forecast.
Common mistakes
Soil temperature and night lows still matter for tender crops.
A crop can start well and still run out of warm days before harvest.
Field note
This calculator answers one narrow planning question: how many practical growing days sit between your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Use that window before you commit to tender crops; then compare the result with the month-by-month Care Calendar when you want zone-aware seasonal tasks.
Manual frost dates keep the tool private and flexible. If your result is short, favor transplants, quick crops, and cool-season timing from the planting guide hub instead of stretching warm-season crops past reliable weather.