Frost dates for ZIP 14854 (Jacksonville, NY)
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, Mecklenburg 4SW, NY (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)150 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
54°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 51°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Ithaca 13 E (19 mi), Geneva #1 (33 mi).
4-inch depth
55°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Ithaca 13 E (19 mi), Geneva #1 (33 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 14854 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 55°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: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 10 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 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) | Sep 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 25 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 23 | Sep 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 10 | Oct 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 29 | Oct 24 |
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 14854
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (Oct 8). 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 | Mar 15–29 | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 1–15 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 1–15 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 15–29 | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 15–29 | Apr 19–May 10 (transplant) Apr 12–May 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 15–29 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) Jul 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 15–29 | Apr 12–May 10 (transplant) Apr 12–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) Jul 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 1–15 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 1–15 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 15–29 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 12–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 12–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 29–Apr 12 | Apr 26–May 17 (transplant) Apr 26–May 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 12–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 5–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 12–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 31–Jun 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 12–19 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 12–19 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 12–19 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 12–19 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 12–19 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 29–Apr 12 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 15–Mar 1 | May 17–24 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 29–Apr 12 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 26–May 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (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: Mecklenburg 4SW, NY (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00305233), elevation 1,510 ft, 9.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca Cornell Univ, NY | 9 mi | May 11 | Oct 3 |
| Freeville 1 NE, NY | 14 mi | May 7 | Oct 8 |
| Aurora Rsch Farm, NY | 16 mi | May 1 | Oct 21 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 14854
When is the last frost in 14854?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 14854 is May 10. For a more cautious planting date, use May 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 14854?
The average first fall freeze is October 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 25.
What hardiness zone is 14854?
ZIP 14854 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 14854 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
14886 Jacksonville 14882 South Lansing 14850 South Hill 14853 Ithaca 14847 Interlaken 13081 14818 Burdett 13062
Other ZIP codes in Tompkins County
13053 13062 13068 13073 13102 14817 14850 14853 14867 14881 14882 14886 All Tompkins County frost dates · New York frost dates
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