Pocatello, ID planting zone & frost dates
Pocatello is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost usually comes around May 2 and the first fall frost around October 11, for a growing season of about 161 days.
Planting calendar for Pocatello
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (May 2) 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 7 – Mar 21 Transplant outdoors: May 9 – May 16 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 21 – Mar 7 Transplant outdoors: May 16 – May 23 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 21 – Mar 7 Transplant outdoors: May 16 – May 23 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 21 – Mar 7 Transplant outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 21 – Mar 7 Transplant outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 9 – May 16 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 9 – May 16 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 9 – May 16 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 9 – May 16 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 21 – Apr 4 Transplant outdoors: May 9 – May 16 |
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).
Useful for zone 6a gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 17 | May 2 | May 18 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Oct 26 | Oct 11 | Sep 26 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 18, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before September 26. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 17.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Pocatello
- 83201 zone 6b
- 83202 zone 6a
- 83204 zone 6a
- 83205 zone 6a
- 83206 zone 6a
- 83209 zone 6a
Nearby cities
- Chubbuck zone 6a, last frost May 2
- Idaho Falls zone 5b, last frost May 9
- Ammon zone 5b, last frost May 9
- Conda zone 5a, last frost May 29
- Rexburg zone 5a, last frost May 15
- Burley zone 6b, last frost May 7
- Twin Falls zone 6b, last frost Apr 30
- Jerome zone 6b, last frost May 2
Questions
What growing zone is Pocatello, ID?
Pocatello is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average extreme winter low -10°F to -5°F), according to the USDA 2023 map. Some ZIP codes of the city fall in zone 6b.
When is the last frost in Pocatello?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Pocatello is May 2. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 18.
When can I plant tomatoes in Pocatello?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 9 – May 16. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Pocatello City, ID (USC00107210), 0.4 km (0.2 mi) from the city center, elevation 1359 m, based on 15 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.