How GardenDraft Sets Your Frost Dates (and How to Change Them)

Every planting date GardenDraft computes is anchored to two numbers: your last spring frost and first fall frost.

Where your frost dates come from

GardenDraft looks up the NOAA climate-normals station nearest the ZIP code in your account settings — not your USDA zone, which measures winter cold, not spring timing (more in our frost-date guide). The station name is shown on your calendar so you can see exactly which data you're getting.

Your ZIP code is account-wide: change it under Settings → Location, and frost dates re-resolve for every garden you own.

Outside the US

Built-in frost data only covers US ZIP codes for now. If you're in Canada or anywhere else, choose your country under Settings → Location, save your postal code, and the Frost dates fields open underneath with a note. Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost, then click Save. Your local extension service, weather service or a nearby garden center can tell you the usual dates.

Your calendar, tasks and care advice all schedule from those two dates. Until they're in, the dashboard, the planner and the Advice page point you to Set frost dates, which opens those fields.

Reading the frost card

On your calendar, each frost shows two dates:

• Last spring frost — the headline is the safer date: frost-free 9 of 10 years. Below it is the median (50/50) date from the climate normals.
• First fall frost — same idea in reverse: the headline date is one frost holds off past 9 of 10 years.

GardenDraft schedules against the safer dates so a typical year doesn't cost you your transplants.

Override a frost date

If you know your site runs colder or warmer than the station — a frost pocket, a south-facing slope:

1. Go to Settings → Location and expand Adjust frost dates (optional).
2. Pick new last-spring and/or first-fall frost dates, then click Save.

Only the month and day apply — the override repeats every season, for every garden in your account. The safer dates and your planting windows recalculate from it. Per-crop adjustments live elsewhere — see How to adjust planting timing for a specific crop.

Frequently asked questions

Why are GardenDraft's frost dates different from my zone map?

USDA zones measure winter minimum temperature, not spring frost timing. GardenDraft uses last and first frost dates from the NOAA climate normals station nearest your ZIP code, which is what drives planting dates.

Can I change my frost dates manually?

Yes. Go to Settings → Location, expand 'Adjust frost dates (optional)', pick new dates, and save. The override applies to every garden in your account, and the safer dates recalculate automatically.