Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 01238 (Lee, MA)
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, Lenox Dale, MA (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 750% 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)147 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 01238, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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
52°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Millbrook 3 W (44 mi), Lye Brook (53 mi).
4-inch depth
54°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 52°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Millbrook 3 W (44 mi), Lye Brook (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 01238 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 54°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to early May).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
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 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 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) | Sep 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 3 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 18 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 20 | Sep 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 7 | Oct 3 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 27 | Oct 15 |
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 01238
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 7) 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 12–26 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 12–26 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 12–26 | Apr 16–May 7 (transplant) Apr 9–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–29 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–29 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 25 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–May 7 (transplant) Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 25 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 13–Jul 4 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 14 (transplant) Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 2–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 12–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 28–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 9–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 9–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 12–26 | May 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 9–23 (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: Lenox Dale, MA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00194131), elevation 1,004 ft, 2.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield Muni AP, MA | 9 mi | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Worthington, MA | 17 mi | May 13 | Oct 2 |
| Copake, NY | 21 mi | May 4 | Oct 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 01238
When is the last frost in 01238?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 01238 is May 7. For a more cautious planting date, use May 21, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 01238?
The average first fall freeze is October 3. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 21.
What hardiness zone is 01238?
ZIP 01238 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 01238 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
01242 Lenox Dale 01260 01262 01264 01240 Lenox 01223 01229 01245
Other ZIP codes in Berkshire County
01029 01201 01220 01222 01223 01224 01225 01226 01229 01230 01235 01236 01237 01240 01242 01244 01245 01247 01253 01254 01255 01256 01257 01258 All Berkshire County frost dates · Massachusetts frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.