Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 42024 (Barlow, KY)
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, Cairo 3N, IL (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 250% 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)211 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°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
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Dexter (53 mi).
4-inch depth
66°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 Dexter (53 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 42024 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 66°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 18 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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 2 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 17 |
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 13 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 12 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 2 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 24 | Nov 10 |
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 42024
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 2) 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 5–19 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 5–19 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 5–19 | Mar 12–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (transplant) Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Mar 19–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 5–12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 5–12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 8–22 | Apr 9–16 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 5–19 (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: Cairo 3N, IL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00093809), elevation 313 ft, 7.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Chain Dam 53, IL | 9 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 5 |
| Bardwell 2 E, KY | 14 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 30 |
| W Paducah 2W, KY | 15 mi | Apr 3 | Oct 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 42024
When is the last frost in 42024?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 42024 is April 2. For a more cautious planting date, use April 17, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 42024?
The average first fall freeze is October 31. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 18.
What hardiness zone is 42024?
ZIP 42024 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 42024 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
42056 La Center 62963 Mound City 42022 Bandana 42087 Wickliffe 62914 Cairo 62996 42053 Kevil 62964 Mounds
Other ZIP codes in Ballard County
42022 42053 42056 42060 42087 All Ballard County frost dates · Kentucky frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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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.