Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 18431 (Honesdale, 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, Milanville, PA (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)156 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 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
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 18431 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 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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 21 |
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 27 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 16 | Sep 28 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 3 | Oct 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 20 | Oct 23 |
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 18431
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 9). 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 8–22 | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 22–Mar 8 | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 22–Mar 8 | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 8–22 | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 8–22 | Apr 12–May 3 (transplant) Apr 5–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 31–Aug 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 8–22 | Apr 5–May 3 (transplant) Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 10 (transplant) Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 12–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 29–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 12–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 8–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 24–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 5–12 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 5–12 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 5–12 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 5–12 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 5–12 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 8–22 | May 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 12–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (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: Milanville, PA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00365738), elevation 760 ft, 10.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawley 1 E, PA | 11 mi | May 10 | Oct 4 |
| Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA | 13 mi | May 14 | Oct 1 |
| Callicoon Ctr, NY | 21 mi | May 12 | Oct 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 18431
When is the last frost in 18431?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 18431 is May 3. For a more cautious planting date, use May 21, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 18431?
The average first fall freeze is October 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 27.
What hardiness zone is 18431?
ZIP 18431 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 18431 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
18456 Prompton 18473 White Mills 18472 Waymart 18405 18469 18443 18453 18421 Vandling
Other ZIP codes in Wayne County
18405 18415 18417 18436 18437 18438 18439 18443 18445 18453 18454 18455 18456 18460 18461 18462 18463 18469 18472 18473 All Wayne County frost dates · Pennsylvania 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.