Olean, NY planting zone & frost dates
Olean is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost usually comes around May 7 and the first fall frost around October 11, for a growing season of about 156 days.
Planting calendar for Olean
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (May 7) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Mar 12 – Mar 26 Transplant outdoors: May 14 – May 21 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 26 – Mar 12 Transplant outdoors: May 21 – May 28 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 26 – Mar 12 Transplant outdoors: May 21 – May 28 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 26 – Mar 12 Transplant outdoors: Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 26 – Mar 12 Transplant outdoors: Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 14 – May 21 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 14 – May 21 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 14 – May 21 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 14 – May 21 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 26 – Apr 9 Transplant outdoors: May 14 – May 21 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 16 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 11).
Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 23 | May 7 | May 22 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Oct 25 | Oct 11 | Sep 29 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 22, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before September 29. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 26.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Olean
- 14760 zone 5b
Nearby cities
- Jamestown zone 6a, last frost May 8
- Lackawanna zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- West Seneca zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Lancaster zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Depew zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Cheektowaga zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Buffalo zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Batavia zone 6a, last frost May 3
Questions
What growing zone is Olean, NY?
Olean is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average extreme winter low -15°F to -10°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Olean?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Olean is May 7. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 22.
When can I plant tomatoes in Olean?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 14 – May 21. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Olean, NY (USC00306196), 1.9 km (1.2 mi) from the city center, elevation 433 m, based on 10 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.