Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 15821 (Elk County, PA)
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, Emporium, PA (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)160 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 15821, 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
55°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 51°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Rock Springs Pa (51 mi).
4-inch depth
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Rock Springs Pa (51 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 15821 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 58°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: 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 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 15 |
| 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 19 | Oct 3 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 7 | Oct 15 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 27 | Oct 28 |
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 15821
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 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 | Mar 12–26 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 12–26 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 12–26 | Apr 16–May 7 (transplant) Apr 9–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 10 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) Jul 9–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–May 7 (transplant) Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) Jul 9–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 14 (transplant) Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 2–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 12–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 28–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 9–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 9–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 12–26 | May 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (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: Emporium, PA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00362629), elevation 1,040 ft, 12.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Hazel 2 NE Dam, PA | 17 mi | May 14 | Oct 6 |
| Ridgway, PA | 19 mi | May 13 | Oct 11 |
| Stevenson Dam, PA | 20 mi | May 10 | Oct 16 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 7 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 15821
When is the last frost in 15821?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 15821 is May 7. For a more cautious planting date, use May 23, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 15821?
The average first fall freeze is October 15. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 1.
What hardiness zone is 15821?
ZIP 15821 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 15821 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
15868 Weedville 15827 Byrnedale 15857 St. Marys 15841 Force 15834 Emporium 15832 Driftwood 15831 15846 Kersey
Other ZIP codes in Elk County
15823 15827 15831 15841 15845 15846 15853 15857 15868 15870 16734 All Elk County frost dates · Pennsylvania 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.