Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 97523 (Takilma, OR)
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, Cave Junction 1 WNW, OR (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)161 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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 97523 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 March to April.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Pacific Northwest (west of the Cascades). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
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 14 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 23 |
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 23 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 12 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 2 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 28 | Sep 23 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 1 | Oct 12 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 4 | Nov 2 |
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 97523
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 12). 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 6–20 | May 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 20–Mar 6 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 20–Mar 6 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 6–20 | May 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 6–20 | Apr 10–May 1 (transplant) Apr 3–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) Jul 6–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 6–20 | Apr 3–May 1 (transplant) Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) Jul 6–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Apr 17–May 8 (transplant) Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 27–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 6–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 22–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 3–10 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 3–10 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 3–10 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 3–10 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 3–10 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 6–20 | May 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (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: Cave Junction 1 WNW, OR (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00351448), elevation 1,377 ft, 3.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants Pass, OR | 28 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 28 |
| Brookings 2 SE, OR | 31 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 27 |
| Ruch, OR | 32 mi | May 4 | Oct 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 97 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 97523
When is the last frost in 97523?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 97523 is May 1. For a more cautious planting date, use May 23, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 97523?
The average first fall freeze is October 12. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 23.
What hardiness zone is 97523?
ZIP 97523 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 97523 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
97534 O'Brien 97531 Kerby 97538 Selma 95543 Gasquet 97544 Williams 97543 97527 New Hope 96086
Other ZIP codes in Josephine County
97497 97526 97527 97531 97532 97534 97538 97543 97544 All Josephine County frost dates · Oregon 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.