Frost Report

All states West Virginia

Frost dates for Wheeling, WV

When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.

Last spring frost

April 20

typical year

Safe to plant

May 6

frost is over in 9 of 10 years

First fall frost

October 29

typical year

Growing season

192 days

frost-free, typical year

When to plant

Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.

CropStart indoorsPlant outsideFall planting
Cool-season crops
Peas – Mar 23 – Apr 6 –
Spinach – Mar 9 – 30 Sep 3 – 17
Lettuce – Mar 23 – Apr 13 Sep 3 – 17
Radishes – Mar 23 – May 4 Sep 17 – Oct 1
Onions – Mar 23 – Apr 6 –
Potatoes – Mar 30 – Apr 13 –
Carrots – Mar 30 – Apr 20 Aug 6 – 20
Beets – Mar 23 – Apr 6 Aug 20 – Sep 3
Kale Feb 9 – 23 Mar 23 – Apr 6 Aug 20 – Sep 3
Broccoli Feb 9 – 23 Apr 6 – 20 Aug 20 – Sep 3
Cabbage Jan 26 – Feb 9 Mar 23 – Apr 6 Aug 20 – Sep 3
Garlic – – Sep 17 – Oct 8
Warm-season crops
Tomatoes Mar 11 – 25 May 6 – 20 –
Peppers Mar 4 – 18 May 13 – 27 –
Cucumbers – May 6 – 27 –
Zucchini – May 6 – Jun 3 –
Pumpkins – May 6 – 27 –
Green beans – May 6 – Aug 20 –
Sweet corn – May 6 – Jun 3 –
Basil Apr 1 – 15 May 13 – 20 –

Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.

The year at a glance

Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting

The chance of frost, by date

1 year in 10Half of years9 years in 10
Spring frost after May 6April 20April 5
Fall frost before October 15October 29November 10

Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.

Hard freeze (28°F)

A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around April 6 (April 21 in a late year), and the first one in fall around November 9.

Towns that use these dates

This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 10 towns.

Wheeling, Martins Ferry, OH, St. Clairsville, OH, Bellaire, OH, Bethlehem, McMechen, Bridgeport, OH, Benwood, Triadelphia, Brookside, OH

Where these dates come from

NOAA weather station WHEELING, WV US (USC00469482), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 15 zip codes, all within 16 miles:

15377, 26003, 26031, 26036, 26040, 26059, 43905, 43906, 43909, 43912, 43928, 43934, 43940, 43950, 43967

Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.