Frost dates for 25865Lester, WV
The average last spring frost in Lester is May 6 and the average first fall frost is October 10, giving a typical growing season of about 156 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- May 6
- Average first fall frost
- Oct 10
- Growing season
- 156 days
Safer after May 23 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Sep 28 (1-in-10 risk)
Last frost typically in 184 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | May 1 · May 18 · Jun 1 | Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 13 | 138 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Apr 22 · May 6 · May 23 | Sep 28 · Oct 10 · Oct 22 | 156 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Apr 9 · Apr 25 · May 15 | Oct 7 · Oct 20 · Nov 2 | 176 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Lester
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Apr 5 – Jun 11 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | May 22 – Jun 20 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Apr 5 – May 6 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | Jun 5 – Jul 6 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Apr 22 – May 21 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | Jun 5 – Jul 6 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | Jun 5 – Jun 30 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | May 22 – Jul 6 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | Jun 5 – Jul 6 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | May 22 – Jul 23 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | May 22 – Jun 20 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | Jun 5 – Jul 6 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | May 29 – Jun 21 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 5 – May 21 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Apr 5 – Jun 5 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 22 – Mar 21 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 22 – May 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 18 – Apr 21 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 22 – May 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 10 – Jun 20 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 10 – Jul 21 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 8 – Apr 5 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 5 – May 6 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | May 31 – Jun 30 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jun 30 – Jul 31 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 5 – Jun 21 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 30 – Aug 16 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 29 – May 12 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 17 – Aug 21 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 5 – May 26 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 30 – Aug 31 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 22 – May 12 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 23 – Jul 31 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | May 6 – Jun 21 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | May 31 – Jul 16 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Sep 30 – Oct 31 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 25865 is matched to the NOAA station Beckley Va Hospital, WV, 11 km away, at 2,330 ft elevation (263 ft higher than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley Va Hospital, WV (used) | 2,330 ft | May 6 | Oct 10 |
| Mullens 3 E, WV | 1,564 ft | Apr 24 | Oct 20 |
| Beckley Raleigh Co Ap, WV | 2,514 ft | Apr 22 | Oct 21 |
| Pineville, WV | 1,320 ft | Apr 16 | Oct 28 |
Frost dates near Lester
- Glen White, WV 25849 · last May 6, first Oct 10
- Surveyor, WV 25932 · last May 6, first Oct 10
- Slab Fork, WV 25920 · last Apr 24, first Oct 20
- Crab Orchard, WV 25827 · last May 6, first Oct 10
- Sophia, WV 25921 · last May 6, first Oct 10
- Midway, WV 25878 · last Apr 22, first Oct 21
- Eccles, WV 25836 · last May 6, first Oct 10
- Princewick, WV 25908 · last May 6, first Oct 10
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Lester, WV?
- For ZIP code 25865, the average last spring frost (32°F) is May 6, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Beckley Va Hospital, WV weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after May 23.
- When is the first frost in Lester, WV?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is October 10. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by September 28, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 25865?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 156 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.