Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 03226 (Belknap County, NH)
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, Meredith 3 NNE, NH (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)171 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 03226, 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
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Hubbard Brook (20 mi), Durham 2 N (47 mi), Durham 2 SSW (50 mi).
4-inch depth
50°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Hubbard Brook (20 mi), Durham 2 N (47 mi), Durham 2 SSW (50 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 03226 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 50°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to early May).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
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) | Apr 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 9 |
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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 16 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 9 | Oct 5 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 28 | Oct 16 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 13 | Oct 31 |
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 03226
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 16). 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 | Mar 3–17 | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 17–Mar 3 | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 17–Mar 3 | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 3–17 | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 3–17 | Apr 7–28 (transplant) Mar 31–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 11 (transplant) Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) Jul 10–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 28 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) Jul 10–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 10–Aug 7 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 10–Aug 7 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 10–Aug 7 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jun 26–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–May 5 (transplant) Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 24–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 3–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jun 26–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 19–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 3–17 | May 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 17–31 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 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.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Meredith 3 NNE, NH (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00275350), elevation 861 ft, 2.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: E (estimated from nearby stations).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth, NH | 9 mi | May 20 | Sep 27 |
| Lakeport 2, NH | 11 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 18 |
| E Sandwich, NH | 11 mi | May 6 | Oct 6 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 23 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 03226
When is the last frost in 03226?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 03226 is April 28. For a more cautious planting date, use May 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 03226?
The average first fall freeze is October 16. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 3.
What hardiness zone is 03226?
ZIP 03226 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 03226 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
03253 Meredith 03245 03217 Ashland 03254 Suissevale 03256 New Hampton 03227 Center Sandwich 03246 Laconia 03264 Plymouth
Other ZIP codes in Belknap County
03218 03220 03225 03237 03246 03249 03253 03256 03269 03809 03810 03837 All Belknap County frost dates · New Hampshire 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.