When to plant in Bridgeport, WV
Planting dates worked out from Bridgeport's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 139 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalApr 28about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outMay 221 year in 10 gets a later frost
Hardy crops like peas and spinach are timed from the typical date. Wait for the safe date before planting out tomatoes, peppers and squash.
First fall frost
- EarlyOct 71 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 21about half of years have had frost
- LateNov 49 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 174 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Clarksburg Benedum Ap · 3.3 km away · station 367 m, town 311 m. How we match towns to stations
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 16 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 21 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Feb 24 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 10 |
| Peas | — | Mar 17 – Apr 14 | May 11 |
| Bush beans | — | May 15 – Jun 5 | Jul 4 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 7 – May 19 | Jun 6 |
| Beet | — | Mar 31 – May 12 | May 20 |
| Potato | — | Apr 7 – Apr 28 | Jun 16 |
| Kale | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 13 |
| Broccoli | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | May 30 |
| Cucumber | Apr 24 – May 1 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 11 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 24 – May 1 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 6 |
| Winter squash | Apr 24 – May 1 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Aug 10 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 15 – Jun 5 | Jul 14 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | Jun 29 |
| Garlic | — | Oct 7 – Nov 4 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Mar 17 – Apr 14 | Apr 24 |
| Basil | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 18 |
Bridgeport's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1940 | May 12 |
| 1941 | May 13 |
| 1942 | Apr 23 |
| 1943 | May 2 |
| 1944 | Apr 29 |
| 1945 | Jun 6 |
| 1946 | Apr 27 |
| 1947 | May 11 |
| 1948 | May 22 |
| 1999 | Apr 26 |
| 2000 | Apr 27 |
| 2001 | Apr 26 |
| 2002 | May 22 |
| 2003 | Apr 24 |
| 2004 | May 4 |
| 2005 | Mar 22 |
| 2006 | May 23 |
| 2007 | Apr 14 |
| 2008 | Apr 16 |
| 2009 | May 19 |
| 2010 | May 10 |
| 2011 | Apr 14 |
| 2012 | Apr 24 |
| 2013 | May 25 |
| 2014 | Apr 24 |
| 2015 | Apr 24 |
| 2016 | Apr 13 |
| 2017 | May 9 |
| 2018 | Apr 30 |
| 2019 | Apr 2 |
| 2020 | May 10 |
| 2021 | May 1 |
| 2022 | Apr 29 |
| 2023 | Apr 25 |
| 2024 | Apr 22 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1940 | 136 |
| 1941 | 163 |
| 1942 | 154 |
| 1943 | 147 |
| 1944 | 168 |
| 1945 | 119 |
| 1946 | 168 |
| 1947 | 134 |
| 1999 | 177 |
| 2000 | 163 |
| 2001 | 163 |
| 2002 | 162 |
| 2003 | 160 |
| 2004 | 188 |
| 2005 | 220 |
| 2006 | 141 |
| 2007 | 197 |
| 2008 | 185 |
| 2009 | 151 |
| 2010 | 162 |
| 2011 | 196 |
| 2012 | 169 |
| 2013 | 151 |
| 2014 | 185 |
| 2015 | 176 |
| 2016 | 205 |
| 2017 | 184 |
| 2018 | 171 |
| 2019 | 199 |
| 2020 | 145 |
| 2021 | 185 |
| 2022 | 198 |
| 2023 | 180 |
| 2024 | 178 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1940 | 17.6 °C |
| 1941 | 19.5 °C |
| 1943 | 18.4 °C |
| 1944 | 19.1 °C |
| 1945 | 17.9 °C |
| 1946 | 17.6 °C |
| 1947 | 18.2 °C |
| 1999 | 19.1 °C |
| 2000 | 18.2 °C |
| 2001 | 18.2 °C |
| 2002 | 19.5 °C |
| 2003 | 18.2 °C |
| 2004 | 19.0 °C |
| 2005 | 20.2 °C |
| 2006 | 18.8 °C |
| 2007 | 19.2 °C |
| 2008 | 18.7 °C |
| 2009 | 18.4 °C |
| 2010 | 20.1 °C |
| 2011 | 19.6 °C |
| 2012 | 19.4 °C |
| 2013 | 18.8 °C |
| 2014 | 18.6 °C |
| 2015 | 19.5 °C |
| 2016 | 19.8 °C |
| 2017 | 19.1 °C |
| 2018 | 20.6 °C |
| 2019 | 21.2 °C |
| 2020 | 19.2 °C |
| 2021 | 19.3 °C |
| 2022 | 19.9 °C |
| 2023 | 18.6 °C |
| 2024 | 20.7 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1940, Bridgeport's last spring frost has come about 2 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 4 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Clarksburg Benedum Ap (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.