Frost dates for ZIP 05843 (Hardwick, 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, Morrisville Stowe State AP, VT (14 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2050% 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)129 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4b-25 to -20°F avg. coldest night
This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Fall in zone 4b
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
47°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 8:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Mount Mansfield (24 mi), Hubbard Brook (49 mi).
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 18, 8:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Hubbard Brook (49 mi).
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 05843 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 48°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). 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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 4 |
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 14 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 2 | Sep 16 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 20 | Sep 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 7 | Oct 7 |
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 05843
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 20) 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 25–Apr 8 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 11–25 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 11–25 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Apr 29–May 20 (transplant) Apr 22–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Apr 22–May 20 (transplant) Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 11–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 11–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jun 8–29 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 8–22 | May 6–27 (transplant) May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 15–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jun 8–22 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 10–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 22–29 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 22–29 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 22–29 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 22–29 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 22–29 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 8–22 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 25–Mar 11 | May 27–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 8–22 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 22–May 6 (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: Morrisville Stowe State AP, VT (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00054771), elevation 732 ft, 13.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisville 4 SSW, VT | 14 mi | May 24 | Sep 27 |
| Worcester 2 W, VT | 15 mi | May 4 | Oct 5 |
| Eden 2 S, VT | 16 mi | May 5 | Oct 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 20 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 05843
When is the last frost in 05843?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 05843 is May 20. For a more cautious planting date, use June 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 05843?
The average first fall freeze is September 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 14.
What hardiness zone is 05843?
ZIP 05843 is in USDA zone 4b (-25 to -20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 05843 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
05681 05836 05647 Cabot 05680 Wolcott 05842 Greensboro Bend 05841 Greensboro 05650 05873
Other ZIP codes in Caledonia County
05042 05046 05050 05819 05821 05828 05832 05836 05850 05851 05862 05866 05867 05871 05873 All Caledonia County frost dates · Vermont frost dates
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