Dates of start and end of frost based on minimum shelter temperature equal to or less than 0°C were studied in Zanjan, Ghazvin and Tehran during 1961-2000. The cause of these frosts was determined by weather parameter values at observation hours and the aid of synoptic maps. Frost series based upon last spring or first fall advection are defined and found to be random and normally distributed. The "potential growing season", defined as the interval between spring last and first fall advection frosts, is found to be 29 days in Zanjan, 23 days in Ghazvin and 10 days in Tehran longer than the "growing season" defined by the interval from last spring to first fall occurrences of minimum shelter temperature of 0°C or less. The numbers of radiation frosts in the interval between first radiation frosts in fall or last radiation frost in spring and related advection frost were counted and found that this parameter is greater in Zanjan. Frostless days between the first two fall frosts and last two spring frosts show that the lengthening of spring season with one night protection is possible for 4 days in Zanjan, 6 in Gazvin and 4 in Tehran, providing that first fall and spring last frost is radiation. Results of this study permit estimating the practicality of frost protection for specialized crops in the area of study.

Keywords: First frost date, Last frost date, Advection frost, Radiation frost, Frost free season

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