Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 42254 (LaFayette, KY)
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, Clarksville Outlaw AP, TN (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)204 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°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
62°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Princeton #1 (32 mi).
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Princeton #1 (32 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 42254 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°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 May 22 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.
Your average first frost is Oct 28: 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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 6 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 23 |
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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 9 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 18 | Oct 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 6 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 25 | Nov 7 |
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 42254
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 6) and first fall frost (Oct 28). 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 9–23 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 9–23 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 9–23 | Mar 16–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 9–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 9–23 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) Jul 22–Aug 19 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 9–23 | Mar 9–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) Jul 22–Aug 19 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 8–29 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 9–23 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Mar 23–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 2–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 16–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 12–26 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 8–22 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 9–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 9–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 9–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 9–16 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 9–16 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 12–26 | Apr 13–20 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 23–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 16–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (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: Clarksville Outlaw AP, TN (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003894), elevation 560 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%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopkinsville, KY | 15 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 2 |
| Dover 1 W, TN | 17 mi | Apr 4 | Oct 31 |
| Clarksville Wwtp, TN | 19 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 3 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 42254
When is the last frost in 42254?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 42254 is April 6. For a more cautious planting date, use April 23, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 42254?
The average first fall freeze is October 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 15.
What hardiness zone is 42254?
ZIP 42254 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 42254 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
42236 37023 Big Rock 42223 42262 Oak Grove 37028 37191 42232 Gracey 37079
Other ZIP codes in Christian County
42215 42217 42232 42236 42240 42262 42266 All Christian County frost dates · Kentucky frost dates
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- 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.