Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 05443 (South Lincoln, VT)
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, S Lincoln, VT (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)124 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°F avg. coldest night
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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
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Mount Mansfield (29 mi).
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 05443 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring 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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 6 |
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 8 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 7 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 4 | Sep 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 21 | Sep 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 8 | Oct 5 |
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 05443
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 21) and first fall frost (Sep 25). 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 26–Apr 9 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 12–26 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 12–26 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 30–May 21 (transplant) Apr 23–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) Jul 17–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) Jun 19–Jul 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 21 (transplant) Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) Jun 19–Jul 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 12–26 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 12–26 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 9–23 | May 7–28 (transplant) May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 16–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 11–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 23–30 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 23–30 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 23–30 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 23–30 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 23–30 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 9–23 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 28–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 9–23 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (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: S Lincoln, VT (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00437612), elevation 1,341 ft, 5.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vergennes, VT | 11 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 17 |
| Waitsfield 2 SE, VT | 12 mi | May 11 | Oct 1 |
| Salisbury 2 N, VT | 15 mi | May 21 | Sep 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 22 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 05443
When is the last frost in 05443?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 05443 is May 21. For a more cautious planting date, use June 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 05443?
The average first fall freeze is September 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 8.
What hardiness zone is 05443?
ZIP 05443 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 05443 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
05487 05472 New Haven 05674 05473 05673 Waitsfield 05766 05462 Huntington 05753 Middlebury
Other ZIP codes in Addison County
05456 05472 05473 05487 05491 05734 05747 05748 05753 05760 05766 05769 05770 05778 All Addison County frost dates · Vermont frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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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.