Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 26717 (Elk Garden, 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, Bayard, WV (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)140 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 26717 (Elk Garden)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 26717, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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
55°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Elkins 21 ENE (27 mi).
4-inch depth
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Elkins 21 ENE (27 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 26717 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 58°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 Jun 28 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.
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 27 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 13 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 30 |
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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 3 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 17 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 26 | Sep 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 13 | Oct 3 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 30 | Oct 14 |
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 26717
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Oct 3). 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 18–Apr 1 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 4–18 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 4–18 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 22–May 13 (transplant) Apr 15–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–29 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–29 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 25 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 15–May 13 (transplant) Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 25 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jun 13–Jul 4 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 20 (transplant) Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 8–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jun 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 15–22 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 15–22 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 15–22 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 15–22 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 15–22 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 1–15 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 18–Mar 4 | May 20–27 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 1–15 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (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: Bayard, WV (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00460527), elevation 2,412 ft, 10.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyser 2 SSW, WV | 11 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 15 |
| Savage Rvr Dam, MD | 12 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| Oakland 1 SE, MD | 13 mi | May 6 | Oct 9 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 26717
When is the last frost in 26717?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 26717 is May 13. For a more cautious planting date, use May 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 26717?
The average first fall freeze is October 3. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 19.
What hardiness zone is 26717?
ZIP 26717 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 26717 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
21538 Kitzmiller 26743 26720 26739 21561 Swanton 26726 Keyser 21523 Bloomington 26710 Burlington
Other ZIP codes in Mineral County
26710 26719 26726 26743 26750 26753 26767 All Mineral County frost dates · West Virginia frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.