Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 97502 (Central Point, OR)
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, Medford Rogue Vly AP, OR (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)204 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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
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 97502 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 March to April.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Pacific Northwest (west of the Cascades). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
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 29: 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 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 30 |
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 14 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 16 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 30 | Oct 16 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 8 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 10 | Nov 13 |
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 97502
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Oct 29). 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 11–25 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 11–25 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 11–25 | Mar 18–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 4–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 11–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 11–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 14–28 | Apr 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (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: Medford Rogue Vly AP, OR (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00024225), elevation 1,297 ft, 4.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruch, OR | 14 mi | May 4 | Oct 13 |
| Ashland, OR | 18 mi | May 6 | Oct 8 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 19 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 29 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 97502
When is the last frost in 97502?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 97502 is April 8. For a more cautious planting date, use April 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 97502?
The average first fall freeze is October 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 14.
What hardiness zone is 97502?
ZIP 97502 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 97502 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
97525 Foots Creek 97501 Medford 97504 Medford 97535 Phoenix 97503 White City 97539 Shady Cove 97537 Wimer 97524 Eagle Point
Other ZIP codes in Jackson County
97501 97503 97504 97520 97522 97524 97525 97530 97535 97536 97537 97539 97540 97541 All Jackson County frost dates · Oregon 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.