Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 97520 (Ashland, OR)
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, Howard Prairie Dam, OR (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)108 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 97520, 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 97520 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 March to April.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Pacific Northwest (west of the Cascades). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
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) | May 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 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) | Sep 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 8 | Sep 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 7 | Oct 14 |
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 97520
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 8) and first fall frost (Sep 24). 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 | Apr 13–27 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 13–27 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 13–27 | May 18–Jun 8 (transplant) May 11–Jun 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (transplant) Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 13–27 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 13–27 | May 11–Jun 8 (transplant) May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 4–25 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 13–27 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 11–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 27–May 11 | May 25–Jun 15 (transplant) May 25–Jun 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 18–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | May 4–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 11–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 18–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 4–18 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 29–Jul 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 22–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 29–Jul 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 11–18 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 11–18 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 11–18 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 11–18 | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 11–18 | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 27–May 11 | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 16–30 | Jun 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 27–May 11 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 25–Jun 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) May 18–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (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: Howard Prairie Dam, OR (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00354060), elevation 4,567 ft, 7.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland, OR | 11 mi | May 6 | Oct 8 |
| Copco #1 Dam, CA | 16 mi | May 4 | Oct 21 |
| Medford Rogue Vly AP, OR | 23 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 29 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 62 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 97520
When is the last frost in 97520?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 97520 is June 8. For a more cautious planting date, use June 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 97520?
The average first fall freeze is September 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 6.
What hardiness zone is 97520?
ZIP 97520 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 97520 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
97540 Talent 97535 Phoenix 97504 Medford 96044 Hornbrook 97501 Medford 97524 Eagle Point 97627 Keno 97502 Central Point
Other ZIP codes in Jackson County
97501 97502 97503 97504 97522 97524 97525 97530 97535 97536 97537 97539 97540 97541 All Jackson County frost dates · Oregon 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.