Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 42025 (Benton, KY)
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, Benton, KY (0 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)192 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 42025 (Benton)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 42025, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- 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.
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
62°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Princeton #1 (32 mi).
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Princeton #1 (32 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 42025 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°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 25 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 19: 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 27 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 28 |
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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 19 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 29 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 24 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 9 | Oct 19 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 31 | Oct 28 |
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 42025
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 19). 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 12–26 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 12–26 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 12–26 | Mar 19–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Mar 26–Apr 16 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 5–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 12–19 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 12–19 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 15–29 | Apr 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (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: Benton, KY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00150611), elevation 365 ft, 0.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: E (estimated from nearby stations).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenlake Resort, KY | 13 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 4 |
| Murray, KY | 17 mi | Apr 5 | Nov 1 |
| Eddyville 5S, KY | 19 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 42025
When is the last frost in 42025?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 42025 is April 9. For a more cautious planting date, use April 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 42025?
The average first fall freeze is October 19. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 6.
What hardiness zone is 42025?
ZIP 42025 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 42025 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
42048 Hardin 42044 Calvert City 42082 Symsonia 42029 Calvert City 42054 42036 Dexter 42020 42045 Grand Rivers
Other ZIP codes in Marshall County
42029 42044 42048 All Marshall County frost dates · Kentucky frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- 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.