Frost dates for ZIP 62256 (Maeystown, IL)
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, Festus, MO (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)197 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 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 62°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Shaw Nature Reserve (36 mi).
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 64°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Shaw Nature Reserve (36 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 62256 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°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 25 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 26: 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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 25 |
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 14 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 8 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 22 | Oct 17 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 9 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 31 | Nov 5 |
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 62256
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 26). 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 12–26 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 12–26 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 12–26 | Mar 19–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Mar 26–Apr 16 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 5–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 12–19 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 12–19 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 15–29 | Apr 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (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: Festus, MO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00232850), elevation 600 ft, 9.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaskaskia Rvr Navigation Lock, IL | 23 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 30 |
| Cahokia, IL | 24 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 27 |
| Cahokia St Louis AP, IL | 24 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 3 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 62256
When is the last frost in 62256?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 62256 is April 9. For a more cautious planting date, use April 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 62256?
The average first fall freeze is October 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 14.
What hardiness zone is 62256?
ZIP 62256 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 62256 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
62244 Maeystown 62295 Valmeyer 62298 Waterloo 63019 Crystal City 62279 63048 Herculaneum 63028 Festus 62277 Prairie du Rocher
Other ZIP codes in Monroe County
62236 62244 62248 62278 62279 62295 62298 All Monroe County frost dates · Illinois frost dates
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