When to plant lavender in Reno, Nevada

April 28 – May 12

Transplant outdoors · typical Reno year

Climate basis: NOAA station Reno Wfo, NV (USC00266791), 3 mi (5 km) from downtown Reno (ZCTA 89501 centroid), elevation 4987 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Transplant lavender outdoors from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (April 28). One year in ten still freezes after May 19.

Last spring freezeApril 281-in-10 after May 19
First fall freezeOctober 271-in-10 before Oct 10
Frost-free season182 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 10Nov 8kills even hardy greens
USDA zone7b5 to 10°F winter low not frost timing

The Reno year

Transplant outdoorsApr 28 – May 12
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 19
Lavender in Reno · freeze context from Reno Wfo, NV, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

Apr 28 – May 12

Utah State University Extension instructs transplanting after the last spring frost, a point rule encoded per policy as a 14-day span opening at the last-frost date; no reconciliation was needed because this is the entry's only source. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 28). Utah State University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

Utah State University Extension advises against direct seeding, stating that the germination rate is low and that seeding to transplanting takes between 100 and 200 days.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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