Frost dates for ZIP 05446 (Chittenden County, VT)
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, S Hero, VT (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)174 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Mount Mansfield (19 mi).
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 05446 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 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.
Your average first frost is Oct 20: 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) | Apr 19 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 10 |
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 4 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 20 |
| 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 9 | Oct 7 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 28 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 18 | Nov 1 |
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 05446
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 20). 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 3–17 | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 17–Mar 3 | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 17–Mar 3 | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 3–17 | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 3–17 | Apr 7–28 (transplant) Mar 31–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 28 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–May 5 (transplant) Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 24–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 3–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 19–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 3–17 | May 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 17–31 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (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: S Hero, VT (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00437607), elevation 110 ft, 6.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex Junction 1 N, VT | 6 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Burlington Intl AP, VT | 7 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| Plattsburgh Intl AP, NY | 14 mi | May 6 | Oct 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 05446
When is the last frost in 05446?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 05446 is April 28. For a more cautious planting date, use May 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 05446?
The average first fall freeze is October 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 4.
What hardiness zone is 05446?
ZIP 05446 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 05446 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
05408 Burlington 05404 Winooski 05439 05401 Burlington 05405 Burlington 05486 South Hero 05468 Milton 05403 South Burlington
Other ZIP codes in Chittenden County
05401 05403 05404 05405 05408 05439 05445 05452 05461 05462 05465 05468 05477 05482 05489 05494 05495 All Chittenden County frost dates · Vermont frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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