Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28451 (Leland, 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, Wilmington Intl AP, NC (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)247 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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 28451 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 4 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 25–Oct 23
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 20: 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 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 4 |
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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 6 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 30 | Nov 8 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 2 | Dec 3 |
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 28451
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 20). 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 22–Feb 5 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 8–22 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 8–22 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 26–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–26 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 12–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 19–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 19–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 5–19 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 26–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 5–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (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: Wilmington Intl AP, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013748), elevation 33 ft, 12.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington 7 N, NC | 13 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
| Wilmington 7 SE, NC | 15 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 15 |
| Moores Creek Nb, NC | 15 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 28451
When is the last frost in 28451?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28451 is March 19. For a more cautious planting date, use April 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 28451?
The average first fall freeze is November 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 5.
What hardiness zone is 28451?
ZIP 28451 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 28451 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
28401 Wilmington 28436 Delco 28479 28435 28412 Wilmington 28456 Riegelwood 28403 Wilmington 28422 Oak Island
Other ZIP codes in Brunswick County
28420 28422 28452 28461 28462 28465 28467 28468 28469 28470 28479 All Brunswick County frost dates · North Carolina frost dates
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- 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.