Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 22902 (Albemarle County, VA)
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, Charlottesville 2 SSE, VA (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)221 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°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
66°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 64°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Charlottesville 2 SSE, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 68°, Fri 68°, Sat 66°.
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Charlottesville 2 SSE, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 67°, Fri 68°, Sat 64°.
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 22902 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°F at 4 inches. 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 8: 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 16 |
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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 25 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 13 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 2 | Nov 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 24 | Nov 20 |
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 22902
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Nov 8). 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 12–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (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 13–Oct 4 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Mar 19–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (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 16–30 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (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 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (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 30–Sep 27 (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: Charlottesville 2 SSE, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003759), elevation 1,177 ft, 6.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello, VA | 8 mi | Apr 5 | Nov 4 |
| Charlottesville 2W, VA | 8 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| Free Union, VA | 13 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 22902
When is the last frost in 22902?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 22902 is April 2. For a more cautious planting date, use April 16, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 22902?
The average first fall freeze is November 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 28.
What hardiness zone is 22902?
ZIP 22902 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 22902 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
22946 22959 North Garden 22903 Charlottesville 22937 Esmont 22908 Charlottesville 24590 Scottsville 22904 University of Virginia 22931
Other ZIP codes in Albemarle County
22901 22903 22904 22911 22923 22931 22932 22936 22937 22940 22943 22946 22947 22959 All Albemarle County frost dates · Virginia 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.