What does this growing season ranking show?

It orders states by Frost-free days. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

NOAA RCC-ACIS supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Rankings · Gardening

The states with the longest growing season

Frost-free days.

Average number of days between the last spring frost and the first fall frost, over 2004-2024. This is the window most annual vegetables have to grow. Averaged across the weather stations in each county, so a county with real elevation change varies inside itself.

How to read this ranking

Florida has the highest published growing season in this comparison, at 310 days. The next states shown are Arizona (280 days) and Louisiana (278 days).

The table orders 51 states by frost-free days. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Average number of days between the last spring frost and the first fall frost, over 2004-2024. This is the window most annual vegetables have to grow. Averaged across the weather stations in each county, so a county with real elevation change varies inside itself.

1Florida310 days
2Arizona280 days
3Louisiana278 days
4Texas269 days
5California258 days
6Mississippi245 days
7Alabama239 days
8Georgia235 days
9South Carolina234 days
10Arkansas224 days
11District of Columbia220 days
12Oklahoma219 days
13Hawaii217 days
14North Carolina216 days
15Delaware214 days
16Virginia211 days
17Maryland210 days
18Tennessee209 days
19Nevada208 days
20New York205 days
21New Jersey204 days
22Kentucky202 days
23Missouri201 days
24Kansas194 days
25Pennsylvania189 days
26Oregon188 days
27Connecticut187 days
28Illinois186 days
29Ohio186 days
30Indiana184 days
31Rhode Island184 days
32West Virginia184 days
33New Mexico182 days
34Washington181 days
35Massachusetts179 days
36Nebraska172 days
37Iowa168 days
38Michigan167 days
39Wisconsin162 days
40Minnesota161 days
41New Hampshire160 days
42Maine158 days
43Idaho152 days
44South Dakota150 days
45Vermont148 days
46Colorado143 days
47North Dakota142 days
48Utah140 days
49Alaska132 days
50Montana119 days
51Wyoming118 days

Related gardening rankings

Use this in a move shortlist

These guides combine this measure with other clearly named inputs; they are not overall state verdicts.

States to consider for a longer growing season →

Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Frost-free days. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: NOAA RCC-ACIS. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

Put this map on your own site

Free to use. The chart names its source and links back, so it stays honest wherever it ends up.

<iframe src="https://movermath.com/embed/growing-season" width="100%" height="420" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Frost-free days by state"></iframe>

Source: NOAA RCC-ACIS. · How this is built

Loading MoverMath…