Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 27953 (Manns Harbor, 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, Manteo AP, NC (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)266 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 27953 (Manns Harbor)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 27953, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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 27953 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 Apr 30 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 Sep 27–Oct 25
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 11–Nov 1
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 1
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 27–Oct 25
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 6: 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) | Feb 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 30 |
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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 6 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 27 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 28 | Nov 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 15 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 28 | Dec 25 |
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 27953
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 15) and first fall frost (Dec 6). 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 18–Feb 1 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 4–18 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 4–18 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 22–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 1 (transplant) Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–22 (transplant) Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 8–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 25–Nov 22 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Oct 25–Nov 22 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 15–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 15–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 15–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 15–22 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 15–22 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Mar 22–29 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 1–15 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (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: Manteo AP, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013766), elevation 13 ft, 12.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia AG Gum Neck, NC | 15 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 13 |
| Fairfield, NC | 31 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 4 |
| Elizabeth City Cgas, NC | 36 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 23 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 27953
When is the last frost in 27953?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 27953 is March 15. For a more cautious planting date, use March 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 27953?
The average first fall freeze is December 6. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 19.
What hardiness zone is 27953?
ZIP 27953 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 27953 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
27978 27954 Manteo 27981 Wanchese 27959 Nags Head 27925 Columbia 27948 Kill Devil Hills 27824 Engelhard 27941
Other ZIP codes in Dare County
27915 27920 27936 27943 27948 27949 27954 27959 27968 27972 27978 27981 27982 All Dare County frost dates · North Carolina frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.