Frost Dates for Beckley, WV 25801
Last spring frost May 3 · First fall frost October 10 · 160 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6b
ZIP 25801 has about 31,100 people.
Moderate season: 160 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 14–May 21 (37 days). Fall frost risk spans September 28–October 21 (23 days).
Frost probability for 25801
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 21 | May 3 | April 14 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 28 | October 10 | October 21 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at BECKLEY RALEIGH CO AP (14.3 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 160-day season in Beckley
In Beckley (160 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 29 | May 17–May 24 | 118 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 118 available after May 17. | Jun 10 |
| Pepper | Mar 22 | May 17–May 24 | 118 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 118 available after May 17. | Jun 15 |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 12 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 19 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 202 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 202 available after Apr 12. | Aug 8 |
| Cucumber | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 132 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 132 available after May 17. | Jul 14 |
| Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Oct 3. | Jul 21 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8–May 17 | 223 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 223 available after Mar 8. | Jul 30 |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 132 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 19 |
| Onion | Feb 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 195 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 195 available after Apr 5. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 8–Apr 26 | 237 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 7; both mature before Oct 31. | Sep 7 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 23; both mature before Oct 31. | Aug 23 |
| Broccoli | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 195 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 195 available after Apr 5. | Jul 15 |
| Cabbage | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 209 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 209 available after Apr 5. | Aug 8 |
| Radish | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 8; both mature before Oct 17. | Sep 8 |
| Beets | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 9 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 181 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 181 available after Apr 19. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 10 | 265 | overwinter: Plant Oct 10 to Oct 31; harvest the following summer. | Oct 31 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 29–May 24 | 216 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 29; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 132 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 132 available after May 10. | Jun 22 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 19 | May 17–May 17 | 125 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 125 available after May 17. | May 28 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 10 | 174 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 174 available after Apr 26. | Jul 20 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 8 | Apr 19–Apr 19 | 181 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 9 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 237 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 7; both mature before Oct 31. | Sep 7 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 209 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 209 available after Apr 5. | Jul 9 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 125 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 125 available after May 17. | May 28 |
| Eggplant | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 118 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 118 available after May 17. | Jun 20 |
| Okra | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 139 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 19 |
| Basil | Mar 29 | May 24–May 24 | 125 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 125 available after May 24. | Jul 14 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 5–Apr 26 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 14 |
| Parsley | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 160 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 160 available after May 10. | Jul 25 |
| Celery | Feb 22 | May 10–May 24 | 160 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 160 available after May 10. | Jun 5 |
| Scallions | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 31. | Aug 18 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 31. | Aug 28 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 22–Apr 5 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Aug 23; both mature before Oct 31. | Aug 23 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 3 | 174 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 19 |
| Collards | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 31. | Aug 18 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 118 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 118 available after May 17. | Jun 5 |
| Chives | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 174 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 174 available after May 10. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 9 |
| Oregano | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 174 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 174 available after May 10. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 160 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 160 available after May 10. | — |
| Sage | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 174 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 174 available after May 10. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 174 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 174 available after May 10. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 22 | Apr 19–May 3 | 181 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 17. | Aug 14 |
| Cosmos | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 14 |
| Lavender | Feb 8 | May 3–May 17 | 181 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 181 available after May 3. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 22 | May 3–May 10 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 24; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 24 |
| Melons | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 118 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 118 available after May 17. | Jun 5 |
| Mint | — | May 3–May 17 | 181 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 181 available after May 3. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 5 | May 3–May 10 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 19 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 139 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 139 available after May 10. | Jul 9 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 125 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 125 available after May 17. | Jun 7 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3–May 17 | 146 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 146 available after May 3. | Jul 4 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 125 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 125 available after May 10. | Jun 15 |
| Watermelon | Apr 19 | May 10–May 17 | 125 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 125 available after May 10. | Jun 10 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 132 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 19 |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 14 |
Month by month in Beckley
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 8), Lavender (Feb 8), Onion (Feb 8), Rosemary (Feb 8), Celery (Feb 22), Collards (Feb 22), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 8), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 8), Cabbage (Mar 8), Lettuce (Mar 8), Sage (Mar 8), Swiss Chard (Mar 8), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 8), Beets (Mar 8), Dill (Mar 8), Peas (Mar 8), Radish (Mar 8), Spinach (Mar 8), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 29). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 5), Corn (Apr 5), Cosmos (Apr 5), Nasturtiums (Apr 5), Okra (Apr 5), Zinnias (Apr 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 5), Turnip (Apr 5), Carrots (Apr 12), Potatoes (Apr 19). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 5), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 5), Cabbage (Apr 5), Collards (Apr 5), Kale (Apr 5), Lettuce (Apr 5), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 3), Beans (May 10), Pole Beans (May 10). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 3), Lavender (May 3), Marigolds (May 3), Mint (May 3), Nasturtiums (May 3), Zinnias (May 3), +23 more. Last frost around May 3. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 28), Pumpkin (May 28). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 5), Celery (Jun 5), Melons (Jun 5), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 7), Tomato (Jun 10), Watermelon (Jun 10), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 4), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 9), Pole Beans (Jul 9), Basil (Jul 14), Cosmos (Jul 14), Cucumber (Jul 14), +11 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 8), Carrots (Aug 8), Beets (Aug 9), Dill (Aug 9), Swiss Chard (Aug 9), Calendula (Aug 14), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 7), Spinach (Sep 7), Radish (Sep 8). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 10). First frost around October 10. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 31). |
| November | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Beckley, WV (ZIP 25801)?
The median last spring frost date for Beckley, WV (ZIP code 25801) is around May 3. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 14; one in ten it runs past May 21.
What is the first fall frost date in Beckley, WV?
The median first fall frost date for Beckley, WV is around October 10. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 28 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Beckley, WV?
The frost-free growing season in Beckley is about 160 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Beckley (160 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Beckley, WV?
Beckley, WV is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Beckley, WV?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 29 and plant out May 17 in Beckley. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Beckley?
Two: plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 17.
When do I plant garlic in Beckley?
Oct 10 to Oct 31; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Princeton (ZIP 24740) has 179 frost-free days, 19 more than Beckley (ZIP 25801). See Princeton ZIP 24740 frost dates
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