Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 27920 (Buxton, 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, Cape Hatteras AP, NC (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)290 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 27920 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-February to early March; fall September to early October.
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 Apr 19 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
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 13–Nov 10
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 29–Oct 27
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 29–Oct 27
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 13–Nov 10
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 27–Nov 17
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 17
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 24
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | Feb 4 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 25 |
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) | Nov 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 22 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 16 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 19 | Dec 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 4 | Dec 22 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 12 | Jan 8 (next year) |
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 27920
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 4) and first fall frost (Dec 22). 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 | Jan 7–21 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 7–21 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 7–21 | Feb 11–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 4–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 17 (transplant) Oct 13–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 21–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (transplant) Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (transplant) Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 18–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 28–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Nov 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 10–24 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 10–Dec 8 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Nov 10–Dec 8 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 1–15 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 4–11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 4–11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 10–24 | Mar 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Oct 13–Nov 10 (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: Cape Hatteras AP, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00093729), elevation 11 ft, 4.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frisco 2NNE, NC | 4 mi | Mar 1 | Dec 20 |
| Ocracoke, NC | 27 mi | Mar 1 | Dec 20 |
| Swanquarter Ferry, NC | 45 mi | Mar 18 | Nov 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 27920
When is the last frost in 27920?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 27920 is March 4. For a more cautious planting date, use March 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 27920?
The average first fall freeze is December 22. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 29.
What hardiness zone is 27920?
ZIP 27920 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 27920 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
27936 Frisco 27915 Avon 27943 Hatteras 27972 Salvo 27982 Waves 27968 Rodanthe 27960 Ocracoke 27978
Other ZIP codes in Dare County
27915 27936 27943 27948 27949 27953 27954 27959 27968 27972 27978 27981 27982 All Dare County frost dates · North Carolina frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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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.