Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 30286 (Thomaston, GA)
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, Thomaston 4SE, GA (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)234 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 30286, 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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 30286 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-February to early March; fall September to early October.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 8 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 12: 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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 23 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 11 |
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 31 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 12 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 28 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 5 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 23 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 10 | Nov 26 |
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 30286
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 12). 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 | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 12–26 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 12–26 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 2–23 (transplant) Feb 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (transplant) Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 23 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 12–26 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 12–26 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 9–23 | Mar 9–30 (transplant) Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 16–Mar 30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 30–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 9–23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (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.
Plants that do well here
Georgia has a university or garden plant program: Georgia Gold Medal Plants (ended 2017). Plant frost-tender annuals after March 23 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Thomaston 4SE, GA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00098661), elevation 620 ft, 4.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rock Rch, GA | 8 mi | Mar 18 | Nov 14 |
| Talbotton, GA | 17 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 3 |
| Experiment, GA | 27 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 30286
When is the last frost in 30286?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 30286 is March 23. For a more cautious planting date, use April 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 30286?
The average first fall freeze is November 12. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 31.
What hardiness zone is 30286?
ZIP 30286 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 30286 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
30285 The Rock 30256 Meansville 31097 Yatesville 30258 Molena 31836 Woodland 31016 Salem 30295 Zebulon 31816 Manchester
Other ZIP codes in Upson County
30285 31097 All Upson County frost dates · Georgia 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.