Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 23316 (Cheriton, VA)
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, Cape Charles 5 ENE, VA (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)234 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 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
62°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 55°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Cape Charles 5 ENE, 2 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 70°, Fri 72°, Sat 63°.
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Cape Charles 5 ENE, 2 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 70°, Fri 71°, Sat 65°.
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 23316 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 13 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 22–Oct 20
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 6–Nov 3
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 6–Nov 3
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 17: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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) | Mar 10 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 10 |
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) | Nov 4 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 17 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 9 | Nov 5 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 28 | Nov 17 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 15 | Dec 2 |
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 23316
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 28) and first fall frost (Nov 17). 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 | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 17–31 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 17–31 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 7–28 (transplant) Feb 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 13 (transplant) Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Feb 28–Mar 28 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 17–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 17–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 17–31 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 14–28 | Mar 14–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 3–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 6–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Oct 6–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 3–17 | Apr 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 14–28 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 17–31 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (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: Cape Charles 5 ENE, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003739), elevation 29 ft, 2.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastville, VA | 6 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 20 |
| Painter 2 W, VA | 22 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 7 |
| Langley AFB, VA | 26 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 23316
When is the last frost in 23316?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 23316 is March 28. For a more cautious planting date, use April 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 23316?
The average first fall freeze is November 17. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 4.
What hardiness zone is 23316?
ZIP 23316 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 23316 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
23310 Cape Charles 23347 23405 23307 23408 23354 Franktown 23413 Nassawadox 23398
Other ZIP codes in Northampton County
23307 23310 23347 23350 23354 23398 23405 23408 23413 23486 All Northampton County frost dates · Virginia frost dates
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