Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 27881 (Speed, NC)
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, Tarboro 1 S, NC (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)226 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°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
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 63°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tidewater #1 (44 mi).
4-inch depth
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 64°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tidewater #1 (44 mi).
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 27881 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 68°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 15 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 9: 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 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 30 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 10 |
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 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 28 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 9 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 30 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 15 | Nov 23 |
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 27881
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 30) and first fall frost (Nov 9). 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 2–16 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 2–16 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 2–16 | Mar 9–30 (transplant) Mar 2–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–30 (transplant) Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 16–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 5–19 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 2–9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 2–9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 2–9 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 2–9 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 2–9 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 5–19 | Apr 6–13 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (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: Tarboro 1 S, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00318500), elevation 35 ft, 8.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mt 8 ESE, NC | 14 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 7 |
| Lewiston, NC | 19 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 7 |
| Greenville, NC | 23 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 27881
When is the last frost in 27881?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 27881 is March 30. For a more cautious planting date, use April 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 27881?
The average first fall freeze is November 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 27881?
ZIP 27881 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 27881 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
27843 Hobgood 27886 Tarboro 27857 Oak City 27841 Hassell 27819 Conetoe 27874 Scotland Neck 27840 Hamilton 27812 Bethel
Other ZIP codes in Edgecombe County
27801 27809 27815 27819 27843 27852 27864 27886 All Edgecombe County frost dates · North Carolina frost dates
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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.