Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 24018 (Cave Spring, 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, Roanoke Rgnl AP, VA (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)210 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°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 Reynolds Homestead (40 mi).
4-inch depth
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Reynolds Homestead (40 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 24018 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 69°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: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 19 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 1: 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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 18 |
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 18 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 1 |
| 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 17 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 22 | 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 24018
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 3) and first fall frost (Nov 1). 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 6–20 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 5–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 6–20 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 6–20 | Mar 13–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 6–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–27 (transplant) Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 20–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 9–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 12–26 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 6–13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 6–13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 6–13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 6–13 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 6–13 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 9–23 | Apr 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (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: Roanoke Rgnl AP, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013741), elevation 1,175 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%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Hill, VA | 10 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 25 |
| Roanoke 8 N, VA | 11 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 28 |
| Rocky Mt, VA | 18 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 18 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 24018
When is the last frost in 24018?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 24018 is April 3. For a more cautious planting date, use April 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 24018?
The average first fall freeze is November 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 18.
What hardiness zone is 24018?
ZIP 24018 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 24018 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
24015 Roanoke 24016 Roanoke 24059 24017 Roanoke 24011 Roanoke 24014 Roanoke 24065 Boones Mill 24153 Salem
Other ZIP codes in Roanoke County
24014 24019 24020 24059 24070 24153 All Roanoke County frost dates · Virginia 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.