Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 31501 (Waycross, 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, Waycross 4 NE, GA (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)246 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Brunswick 23 S (60 mi).
4-inch depth
78°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 77°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Brunswick 23 S (60 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 31501 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 78°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically 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 30 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 22–Oct 20
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 6–Nov 3
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 6–Nov 3
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 17: 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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 3 |
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 31 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 17 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 6 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 31 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 15 | Nov 17 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 1 | Dec 1 |
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 31501
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 15) and first fall frost (Nov 17). 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 18–Feb 1 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 4–18 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 4–18 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 22–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 13 (transplant) Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–22 (transplant) Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 8–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 6–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Oct 6–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 15–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 15–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 15–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 15–22 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 15–22 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Mar 22–29 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 1–15 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (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 15 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Waycross 4 NE, GA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00099186), elevation 145 ft, 2.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alma Bacon Co AP, GA | 23 mi | Mar 11 | Nov 20 |
| Nahunta 6NE, GA | 25 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 15 |
| Fargo 17 NE, GA | 28 mi | Feb 19 | Dec 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 37 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 31501
When is the last frost in 31501?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 31501 is March 15. For a more cautious planting date, use April 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 31501?
The average first fall freeze is November 17. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 31.
What hardiness zone is 31501?
ZIP 31501 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 31501 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
31503 Waresboro 31564 Waresboro 31516 Blackshear 31542 Hoboken 31552 Millwood 31550 Manor 31557 Offerman 31556 Offerman
Other ZIP codes in Ware County
31503 31550 31552 31564 All Ware County frost dates · Georgia 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.