Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28654 (Wilkes County, 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, W Kerr Scott Resv, NC (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)208 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°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 28654 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 early March to early April; fall late August to mid-September.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 23 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 1: 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 24 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 22 |
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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 12 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 21 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 7 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 26 | Nov 11 |
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 28654
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Nov 1). 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 | Feb 10–24 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 10–24 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 10–24 | Mar 17–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 10–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–27 (transplant) Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 10–24 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 10–24 | Mar 10–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 10–24 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Mar 24–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 3–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 13–27 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 12–26 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 10–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 10–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 10–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 10–17 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 10–17 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 13–27 | Apr 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (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: W Kerr Scott Resv, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00319555), elevation 1,070 ft, 6.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| N Wilkesboro, NC | 7 mi | Apr 10 | Oct 29 |
| Taylorsville, NC | 9 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 4 |
| Elkin, NC | 21 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 28654
When is the last frost in 28654?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28654 is April 7. For a more cautious planting date, use April 22, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 28654?
The average first fall freeze is November 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 19.
What hardiness zone is 28654?
ZIP 28654 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 28654 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
28697 Wilkesboro 28606 28636 Hiddenite 28681 Taylorsville 28659 North Wilkesboro 28689 28624 28669
Other ZIP codes in Wilkes County
28606 28624 28635 28649 28651 28659 28665 28669 28670 28685 28697 All Wilkes County frost dates · North Carolina frost dates
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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.