Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28120 (Mount Holly, 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, Gastonia, NC (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2750% 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)228 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
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 28120 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 May 12 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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 27 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 26 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 7 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 27 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 15 | Nov 22 |
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 28120
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 27) 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 | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 16–30 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 16–30 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 6–27 (transplant) Feb 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 13–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 27 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 2–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 2–16 | Apr 3–10 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 13–27 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (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: Gastonia, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00313356), elevation 700 ft, 7.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Douglas AP, NC | 8 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 3 |
| Gastonia Muni AP, NC | 12 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 9 |
| Lincolnton 4 W, NC | 19 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 28120
When is the last frost in 28120?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28120 is March 27. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 28120?
The average first fall freeze is November 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 28.
What hardiness zone is 28120?
ZIP 28120 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 28120 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
28164 Lowesville 28214 Charlotte 28101 McAdenville 28098 Lowell 28006 Alexis 28032 Cramerton 28216 Charlotte 28012 Belmont
Other ZIP codes in Gaston County
28006 28012 28016 28021 28032 28034 28052 28054 28056 28077 28098 28101 28164 All Gaston 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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- 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.