Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 24442 (Highland 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, Mustoe 1 SW, VA (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 850% 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)148 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°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
59°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 55°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Shenandoah (32 mi), Elkins 21 ENE (44 mi), Charlottesville 2 SSE (56 mi).
4-inch depth
62°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 58°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Shenandoah (32 mi), Elkins 21 ENE (44 mi), Charlottesville 2 SSE (56 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 24442 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 62°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). 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 Jun 23 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
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 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 26 |
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 22 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 5 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 19 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 21 | Sep 25 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 8 | Oct 5 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 29 | Oct 17 |
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 24442
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 8) 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 13–27 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 13–27 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 13–27 | Apr 17–May 8 (transplant) Apr 10–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–31 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 27–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–31 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) Jun 29–Jul 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–May 8 (transplant) Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) Jun 29–Jul 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 15 (transplant) Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 3–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 13–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 15–29 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 29–Jun 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 10–17 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 10–17 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 13–27 | May 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 10–24 (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: Mustoe 1 SW, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00445880), elevation 2,367 ft, 15.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Gap, VA | 19 mi | May 12 | Oct 3 |
| Franklin 2 NE, WV | 21 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 11 |
| Staunton WTP, VA | 21 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 28 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 24442
When is the last frost in 24442?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 24442 is May 8. For a more cautious planting date, use May 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 24442?
The average first fall freeze is October 5. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 22.
What hardiness zone is 24442?
ZIP 24442 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 24442 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
24433 24458 McDowell 24485 26815 24421 Churchville 22843 24413 24465 Monterey
Other ZIP codes in Highland County
24413 24433 24458 24465 24487 All Highland County frost dates · Virginia frost dates
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