Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 27518 (Cary, 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, Cary, NC (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)226 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
66°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 61°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Durham 11 W (24 mi).
4-inch depth
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Durham 11 W (24 mi).
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 27518 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 68°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
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 16 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 10: 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 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 31 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 12 |
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 30 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 10 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 27 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 10 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 31 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 17 | Nov 24 |
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 27518
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 10). 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 3–17 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 3–17 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 3–17 | Mar 10–31 (transplant) Mar 3–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 6 (transplant) Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–31 (transplant) Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 6–20 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 17–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 6–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 6–20 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 3–10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 3–10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 3–10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 3–10 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 3–10 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 6–20 | Apr 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 1–29 (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: Cary, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00311535), elevation 390 ft, 1.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex, NC | 4 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
| Raleigh 4 SW, NC | 5 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 9 |
| Raleigh State Univ, NC | 6 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 27518
When is the last frost in 27518?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 27518 is March 31. For a more cautious planting date, use April 12, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 27518?
The average first fall freeze is November 10. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 30.
What hardiness zone is 27518?
ZIP 27518 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 27518 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
27511 Cary 27606 Raleigh 27539 Apex 27513 Cary 27695 Raleigh 27607 Raleigh 27502 Apex 27605 Raleigh
Other ZIP codes in Wake County
27502 27511 27513 27519 27529 27539 27540 27545 27560 27571 27587 27591 27592 27597 27601 27603 27604 27605 27606 27607 27608 27609 27610 27612 All Wake 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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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.