Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 31012 (Chester, GA)
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, Eastman 1 W, GA (14 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)263 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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 31012 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-February to early March; fall September to early October.
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 Apr 20 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
- Lettuce: fall transplant Sep 29–Oct 20
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 29–Oct 20
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 29–Oct 27
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 13–Nov 10
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 13–Nov 10
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 24: 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) | Feb 8 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 5 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 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) | Nov 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 17 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 19 | Nov 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 5 | Nov 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 16 | Dec 9 |
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 31012
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 5) and first fall frost (Nov 24). 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 | Jan 8–22 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 8–22 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 8–22 | Feb 12–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 5–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 20 (transplant) Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 22–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–29 (transplant) Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–29 (transplant) Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 11–25 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 29–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 11–25 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 11–25 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 13–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | Oct 13–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 4–18 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 5–12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 5–12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 11–25 | Mar 12–19 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (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.
Plants that do well here
Georgia has a university or garden plant program: Georgia Gold Medal Plants (ended 2017). Plant frost-tender annuals after March 5 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Eastman 1 W, GA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00092966), elevation 400 ft, 13.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkinsville, GA | 19 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 12 |
| Dublin, GA | 19 mi | Mar 14 | Nov 13 |
| Dublin 2, GA | 20 mi | Mar 14 | Nov 16 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 31012
When is the last frost in 31012?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 31012 is March 5. For a more cautious planting date, use March 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 31012?
The average first fall freeze is November 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 6.
What hardiness zone is 31012?
ZIP 31012 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 31012 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
31019 Dexter 31022 Dudley 31014 Cochran 31065 Montrose 31075 Rentz 31009 Cadwell 31003 Allentown 31023 Eastman
Other ZIP codes in Dodge County
31011 31023 31077 All Dodge County frost dates · Georgia 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.