Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 23438 (Suffolk, VA)
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, Holland 1 E, VA (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)208 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°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
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 63°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tidewater #1 (49 mi).
4-inch depth
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 64°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tidewater #1 (49 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 23438 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 68°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: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 23 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 2: 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 22 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 7 |
| 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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 2 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 15 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 21 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 7 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 25 | Nov 12 |
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 23438
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Nov 2). 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 10–24 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 10–24 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 10–24 | Mar 17–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 10–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–28 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 10–24 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 10–24 | Mar 10–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 10–24 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Mar 24–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 3–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 13–27 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 10–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 10–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 10–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 10–17 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 10–17 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 13–27 | Apr 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (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: Holland 1 E, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00444044), elevation 80 ft, 8.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA | 12 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 15 |
| Wallaceton-lake Drummond, VA | 14 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 27 |
| Murfreesboro, NC | 23 mi | Apr 6 | Nov 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 24 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 23438
When is the last frost in 23438?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 23438 is April 7. 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 23438?
The average first fall freeze is November 2. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 19.
What hardiness zone is 23438?
ZIP 23438 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 23438 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
27937 23437 Suffolk 27926 27969 23434 Suffolk 27979 Sunbury 23315 Carrsville 27938 Gatesville
Other ZIP codes in Suffolk city
23432 23433 23434 23435 23436 23437 All Suffolk city frost dates · Virginia frost dates
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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.