Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 38556 (Allardt, TN)
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, Jamestown, TN (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)183 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 38556, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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 38556 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 5 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.
Your average first frost is Oct 22: 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) | Apr 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 8 |
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 10 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 22 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 3 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 2 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 20 | Oct 22 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
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 38556
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 22). 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 23–Mar 9 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 9–23 | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 9–23 | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Mar 30–Apr 20 (transplant) Mar 23–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Mar 23–Apr 20 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 9–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 9–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 2–23 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 23–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 23–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 9–23 | Apr 6–27 (transplant) Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 23–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 16–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 23–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 30–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 2–16 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 11–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 23–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 23–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 23–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 23–30 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 23–30 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 9–23 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Apr 27–May 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 9–23 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (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: Jamestown, TN (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00404590), elevation 1,690 ft, 1.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allardt, TN | 3 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| Pickett Sp, TN | 12 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 19 |
| Byrdstown, TN | 16 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 38556
When is the last frost in 38556?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 38556 is April 20. For a more cautious planting date, use May 8, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 38556?
The average first fall freeze is October 22. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 10.
What hardiness zone is 38556?
ZIP 38556 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 38556 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
38504 38577 38565 Grimsley 38589 38543 37733 38553 Clarkrange 38549 Byrdstown
Other ZIP codes in Fentress County
38504 38553 38565 38589 All Fentress County frost dates · Tennessee 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.