Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 03259 (Carroll County, NH)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Waterville Valley Nepp, NH (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)134 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 03259, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
46°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 45°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Hubbard Brook, 12 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 48°, Fri 47°, Sat 46°.
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Hubbard Brook, 12 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 50°, Fri 49°, Sat 48°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 03259 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 48°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to early May).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 29 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 13 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 11 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 29 | Sep 16 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 15 | Sep 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 2 | Oct 9 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 03259
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 28). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 6–20 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 6–20 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Apr 24–May 15 (transplant) Apr 17–May 29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Apr 17–May 15 (transplant) Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 6–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 6–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jun 8–29 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 3–17 | May 1–22 (transplant) May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 10–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jun 8–22 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 17–24 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 17–24 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 17–24 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 17–24 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 17–24 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 3–17 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 20–Mar 6 | May 22–29 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 3–17 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Waterville Valley Nepp, NH (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00278961), elevation 1,429 ft, 4.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: E (estimated from nearby stations).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E Sandwich, NH | 9 mi | May 6 | Oct 6 |
| Plymouth, NH | 10 mi | May 20 | Sep 27 |
| Tamworth 4, NH | 12 mi | May 16 | Sep 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 03259
When is the last frost in 03259?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 03259 is May 15. For a more cautious planting date, use May 29, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 03259?
The average first fall freeze is September 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 13.
What hardiness zone is 03259?
ZIP 03259 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 03259 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
03227 Center Sandwich 03285 03897 03245 03223 03883 03886 03293
Other ZIP codes in Carroll County
03227 03254 03812 03813 03814 03816 03817 03818 03830 03832 03836 03838 03845 03846 03847 03849 03850 03853 03860 03864 03872 03875 03882 03883 All Carroll County frost dates · New Hampshire frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.