Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 63936 (Dudley, MO)
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, Poplar Bluff Muni AP, MO (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)214 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°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
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Dexter, 11 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 79°, Fri 70°, Sat 65°.
4-inch depth
66°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 62°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Dexter, 11 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 78°, Fri 71°, Sat 66°.
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 63936 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 66°F at 4 inches. 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 16 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 31: 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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 31 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 15 |
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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 31 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 13 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 11 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 31 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 19 | Nov 10 |
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 63936
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Oct 31). 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 3–17 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 3–17 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 3–17 | Mar 10–31 (transplant) Mar 3–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (transplant) Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–31 (transplant) Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 6–20 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 17–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 6–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 6–20 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 3–10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 3–10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 3–10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 3–10 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 3–10 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 6–20 | Apr 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (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
Missouri has a university or garden plant program: Plants of Merit. Plant frost-tender annuals after March 31 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Poplar Bluff Muni AP, MO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003975), elevation 327 ft, 11.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wappapello Dam, MO | 12 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 2 |
| Poplar Bluff, MO | 16 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 5 |
| Malden Muni AP, MO | 16 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 3 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 63936
When is the last frost in 63936?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 63936 is March 31. For a more cautious planting date, use April 15, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 63936?
The average first fall freeze is October 31. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 19.
What hardiness zone is 63936?
ZIP 63936 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 63936 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
63940 Fisk 63841 Dexter 63962 63960 Puxico 63932 Broseley 63822 Bernie 63966 63825 Bloomfield
Other ZIP codes in Stoddard County
63730 63735 63738 63822 63825 63841 63846 63850 63960 All Stoddard County frost dates · Missouri frost dates
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