Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 23354 (Franktown, 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, Eastville, VA (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)240 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, 13 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, 13 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 23354 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 11 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 25–Oct 23
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 20: 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 11 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 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) | Nov 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 6 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 4 | Nov 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 26 | Nov 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 15 | Dec 4 |
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 23354
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 20). 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 29–Feb 12 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 15–29 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 15–29 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 5–26 (transplant) Feb 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 26 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 1–15 | Apr 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 12–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (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: Eastville, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00442635), elevation 10 ft, 7.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painter 2 W, VA | 9 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 7 |
| Cape Charles 5 ENE, VA | 13 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 17 |
| N, VA | 30 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 10 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 23354
When is the last frost in 23354?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 23354 is March 26. For a more cautious planting date, use April 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 23354?
The average first fall freeze is November 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 7.
What hardiness zone is 23354?
ZIP 23354 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 23354 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
23413 Nassawadox 23350 Exmore 23398 23307 23408 23405 23486 Willis Wharf 23306 Belle Haven
Other ZIP codes in Northampton County
23307 23310 23316 23347 23350 23398 23405 23408 23413 23486 All Northampton County frost dates · Virginia 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.