Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 38685 (Waterford, MS)
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, University, MS (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 350% 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)210 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
65°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 62°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Holly Springs 4 N (16 mi), Goodwin Ck Pasture (32 mi), Goodwin Ck Timber (34 mi).
4-inch depth
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Holly Springs 4 N (16 mi), Goodwin Ck Pasture (32 mi), Goodwin Ck Timber (34 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 38685 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 67°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: 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 19 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
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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 21 |
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 17 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 14 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 3 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 21 | Nov 12 |
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 38685
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 3) 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 6–20 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 6–20 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 6–20 | Mar 13–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 6–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (transplant) Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 20–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 9–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 6–13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 6–13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 6–13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 6–13 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 6–13 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 9–23 | Apr 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 6–20 (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.
Plants that do well here
Mississippi has a university or garden plant program: Mississippi Medallion. Plant frost-tender annuals after April 3 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: University, MS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00229079), elevation 408 ft, 15.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holly Springs 4 N, MS | 16 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 26 |
| Holly Springs 4 N, MS | 16 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 28 |
| Hickory Flat, MS | 17 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 5 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 38685
When is the last frost in 38685?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 38685 is April 3. For a more cautious planting date, use April 21, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 38685?
The average first fall freeze is October 31. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 18.
What hardiness zone is 38685?
ZIP 38685 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 38685 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
38601 Abbeville 38659 Bethlehem 38635 Holly Springs 38677 University 38633 Hickory Flat 38627 38655 Oxford 38619 Como
Other ZIP codes in Marshall County
38611 38635 38659 38661 All Marshall County frost dates · Mississippi frost dates
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