Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 26032 (Bethany, WV)
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, Wheeling Ohio Co AP, WV (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)185 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 26032 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 early March to early April; fall late August to mid-September.
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 Jun 8 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 25: 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) | Apr 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 23 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 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) | Oct 10 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 8 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 4 | Oct 13 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 23 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 8 | Nov 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 26032
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 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 | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 2–23 (transplant) Mar 26–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Mar 26–Apr 23 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 12–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 12–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–30 (transplant) Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 19–Apr 30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 26–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 26–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 26–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 26–Apr 2 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 26–Apr 2 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 30–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 12–26 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (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: Wheeling Ohio Co AP, WV (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00014894), elevation 1,179 ft, 5.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pike Island(lock & Dam), WV | 8 mi | Apr 18 | Nov 1 |
| Wheeling, WV | 13 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 29 |
| Steubenville, OH | 14 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 26032
When is the last frost in 26032?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 26032 is April 23. For a more cautious planting date, use May 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 26032?
The average first fall freeze is October 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 10.
What hardiness zone is 26032?
ZIP 26032 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 26032 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
26074 West Liberty 26075 Windsor Heights 26060 Valley Grove 26070 Wellsburg 26058 26030 Beech Bottom 15376 West Alexander 43913 Brilliant
Other ZIP codes in Brooke County
26030 26035 26037 26058 26070 26075 All Brooke County frost dates · West 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.