Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28551 (La Grange, 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, Goldsboro 4 SE, NC (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)250 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 28551 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 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 18: 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) | Apr 1 |
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 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 7 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 29 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 15 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 28 | Dec 4 |
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 28551
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 15) and first fall frost (Nov 18). 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) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 4–18 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 4–18 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (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) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–22 (transplant) Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 8–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (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) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 15–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (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) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (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 9–Oct 7 (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: Goldsboro 4 SE, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013713), elevation 109 ft, 10.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Hill Waste Water Treament, NC | 11 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 12 |
| Kinston AG Rsch, NC | 12 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 11 |
| Goldsboro AG 1 N, NC | 14 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 28551
When is the last frost in 28551?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28551 is March 15. For a more cautious planting date, use April 1, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 28551?
The average first fall freeze is November 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 28551?
ZIP 28551 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 28551 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
27534 Goldsboro 28578 Seven Springs 28504 Kinston 27531 Goldsboro 28580 Snow Hill 28333 Dudley 28538 Hookerton 28525 Deep Run
Other ZIP codes in Lenoir County
28501 28504 28525 All Lenoir 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.