Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 05648 (Washington 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, Worcester 2 W, VT (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)153 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 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
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Mount Mansfield (20 mi), Hubbard Brook (48 mi).
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Hubbard Brook (48 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 05648 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 48°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 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 18 |
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 5 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 20 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 17 | Sep 25 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 4 | Oct 5 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 23 | Oct 19 |
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 05648
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 5). 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 9–23 | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 23–Mar 9 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 23–Mar 9 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 9–23 | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 9–23 | Apr 13–May 4 (transplant) Apr 6–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–31 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 23–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–31 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) Jun 29–Jul 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 9–23 | Apr 6–May 4 (transplant) Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) Jun 29–Jul 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 23–Apr 6 | Apr 20–May 11 (transplant) Apr 20–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 30–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 9–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 23–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jun 15–29 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 25–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 6–13 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 6–13 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 6–13 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 6–13 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 6–13 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 18–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 9–23 | May 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 20–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (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: Worcester 2 W, VT (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00439988), elevation 1,360 ft, 4.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield, VT | 8 mi | May 25 | Sep 22 |
| Montpelier 2, VT | 10 mi | May 5 | Oct 9 |
| Morrisville 4 SSW, VT | 11 mi | May 24 | Sep 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 05648
When is the last frost in 05648?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 05648 is May 4. For a more cautious planting date, use May 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 05648?
The average first fall freeze is October 5. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 21.
What hardiness zone is 05648?
ZIP 05648 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 05648 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
05650 05640 05682 Worcester 05666 05658 Marshfield 05651 East Montpelier 05681 05667 Plainfield
Other ZIP codes in Washington County
05602 05640 05641 05647 05650 05651 05658 05660 05663 05664 05666 05667 05669 05670 05673 05674 05676 05677 05678 05681 05682 All Washington County frost dates · Vermont 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.