Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28697 (Wilkesboro, 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, N Wilkesboro, NC (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)201 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 28697 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 26 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
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 29: 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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 10 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 26 |
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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 24 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 10 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
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 28697
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Oct 29). 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 13–27 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 13–27 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 13–27 | Mar 20–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Mar 27–Apr 17 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 6–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 13–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 13–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 13–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 13–20 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 13–20 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 16–30 | Apr 17–24 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (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: N Wilkesboro, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00316256), elevation 1,120 ft, 1.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| W Kerr Scott Resv, NC | 4 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 1 |
| Taylorsville, NC | 15 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 4 |
| Elkin, NC | 19 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 28697
When is the last frost in 28697?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28697 is April 10. For a more cautious planting date, use April 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 28697?
The average first fall freeze is October 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 16.
What hardiness zone is 28697?
ZIP 28697 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 28697 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
28654 28659 North Wilkesboro 28606 28669 28665 28635 Hays 28624 28649
Other ZIP codes in Wilkes County
28606 28624 28635 28649 28651 28654 28659 28665 28669 28670 28685 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.