Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 24311 (Atkins, 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, Burkes Garden, VA (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)150 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 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 24311 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 early March to early April; fall late August to mid-September.
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 Jun 24 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
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 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 26 |
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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 6 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 20 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 20 | Sep 27 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 9 | Oct 6 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 28 | Oct 15 |
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 24311
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 6). 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 14–28 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 14–28 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 14–28 | Apr 18–May 9 (transplant) Apr 11–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (transplant) Jul 28–Aug 25 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) Jun 30–Jul 28 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–May 9 (transplant) Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) Jun 30–Jul 28 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 28 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 28 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 28 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 16–Jul 7 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 28–Apr 11 | Apr 25–May 16 (transplant) Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 4–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 14–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 30–Jun 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 11–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 11–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 14–28 | May 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (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: Burkes Garden, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00441209), elevation 3,068 ft, 15.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Creek 4SSW, VA | 18 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 27 |
| Wytheville, VA | 19 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 18 |
| Saltville 1N, VA | 20 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 24 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 24311
When is the last frost in 24311?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 24311 is May 9. For a more cautious planting date, use May 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 24311?
The average first fall freeze is October 6. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 20.
What hardiness zone is 24311?
ZIP 24311 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 24311 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
24368 Rural Retreat 24375 Sugar Grove 24354 Adwolf 24318 24323 24374 24378 Troutdale 24377
Other ZIP codes in Smyth County
24319 24354 24370 24375 All Smyth 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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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.