Frost dates for ZIP 24102 (Franklin County, 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, Philpott Dam 2, VA (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)199 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°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 7b
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
66°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 62°F, as of Oct 18, 8:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Reynolds Homestead (16 mi).
4-inch depth
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 8:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Reynolds Homestead (16 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 24102 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 68°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 30 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 31: 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 30 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 14 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 2 |
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) | Oct 18 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 31 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 11 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 26 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 14 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 31 | Nov 8 |
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 24102
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 31). 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 | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 24–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 17–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (transplant) Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 17–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 3–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 3–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 21 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 10–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 24–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 17–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 17–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 17–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 17–24 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 17–24 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Apr 21–28 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 3–17 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (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: Philpott Dam 2, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00446692), elevation 1,123 ft, 4.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mt, VA | 11 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 25 |
| Martinsville Fltr Plt, VA | 12 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| Floyd 2 NE, VA | 17 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 10 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 24102
When is the last frost in 24102?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 24102 is April 14. For a more cautious planting date, use May 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 24102?
The average first fall freeze is October 31. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 18.
What hardiness zone is 24102?
ZIP 24102 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 24102 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
24088 Ferrum 24055 Oak Level 24168 Stanleytown 24078 Collinsville 24089 Fieldale 24151 Rocky Mount 24112 Martinsville 24067
Other ZIP codes in Franklin County
24065 24067 24088 24092 24101 24137 24151 24176 24184 All Franklin County frost dates · Virginia frost dates
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