Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28512 (Atlantic Beach, 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, Atlantic Beach WTP, NC (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)286 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 28512 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 18 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 4–Nov 1
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 18–Nov 8
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 8
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 15
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 4–Nov 1
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 13: 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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 21 |
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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 13 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 9 (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 18 | Nov 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 3 | Dec 13 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 17 | Dec 31 |
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 28512
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 3) and first fall frost (Dec 13). 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 6–20 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 6–20 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 6–20 | Feb 10–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 3–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 8 (transplant) Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 20–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 6–20 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 6–20 | Feb 3–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 9–23 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 6–20 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Feb 17–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 27–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 6–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 9–23 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 20–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 9–23 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) | Nov 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 24–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 3–10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 3–10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 3–10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 3–10 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 3–10 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 9–23 | Mar 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (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: Atlantic Beach WTP, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00310356), elevation 4 ft, 3.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morehead City 2 WNW, NC | 5 mi | Mar 18 | Nov 21 |
| Newport/morehead City WFO, NC | 7 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 16 |
| Beaufort Michael J Smith Fld, NC | 9 mi | Mar 10 | Dec 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 23 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 28512
When is the last frost in 28512?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28512 is March 3. For a more cautious planting date, use March 21, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 28512?
The average first fall freeze is December 13. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 25.
What hardiness zone is 28512?
ZIP 28512 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 28512 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
28557 Morehead City 28575 Indian Beach 28570 Newport 28594 Emerald Isle 28531 Harkers Island 28532 Havelock 28533 Havelock 28516 Beaufort
Other ZIP codes in Carteret County
28511 28516 28520 28524 28528 28531 28553 28557 28570 28575 28577 28579 28581 28584 28589 28594 All Carteret 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.