Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 31557 (Offerman, 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, Nahunta 6NE, GA (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)236 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Brunswick 23 S (54 mi).
4-inch depth
78°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 77°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Brunswick 23 S (54 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 31557 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 78°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically 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 10 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 20–Oct 18
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 15: 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 2 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 15 |
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 15 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 2 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 6 | Nov 5 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 25 | Nov 15 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 10 | Nov 27 |
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 31557
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 25) and first fall frost (Nov 15). 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 28–Feb 11 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 14–28 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 14–28 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 4–25 (transplant) Feb 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 11 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 25 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Apr 1–8 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 11–25 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (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 25 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Nahunta 6NE, GA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00096219), elevation 68 ft, 12.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waycross 4 NE, GA | 15 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 17 |
| Jesup 8 S, GA | 17 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 10 |
| Surrency, GA | 24 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 16 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 31557
When is the last frost in 31557?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 31557 is March 25. For a more cautious planting date, use April 15, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 31557?
The average first fall freeze is November 15. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 31.
What hardiness zone is 31557?
ZIP 31557 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 31557 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
31556 Offerman 31560 Screven 31516 Blackshear 31518 Bristol 31551 Mershon 31543 Hortense 31545 Jesup 31553 Nahunta
Other ZIP codes in Pierce County
31516 31551 31556 All Pierce County frost dates · Georgia frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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