Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28042 (Fallston, 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, Vale AG 2 SW, NC (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)198 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
61°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 56°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Asheville 13 S (59 mi).
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 28042 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 May 28 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
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 28: 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 31 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 12 |
| 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 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 9 |
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 12 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 1 | Nov 5 |
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 28042
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 12) and first fall frost (Oct 28). 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 15–Mar 1 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 22–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) Jul 22–Aug 19 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) Jul 22–Aug 19 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 8–29 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 8–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 8–22 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 15–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 15–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 1–15 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (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: Vale AG 2 SW, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00318906), elevation 985 ft, 7.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby 2 NW, NC | 9 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 25 |
| Lincolnton 4 W, NC | 10 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 28 |
| Morganton, NC | 23 mi | Apr 7 | Oct 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 5 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 28042
When is the last frost in 28042?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28042 is April 12. 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 28042?
The average first fall freeze is October 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 16.
What hardiness zone is 28042?
ZIP 28042 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 28042 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
28090 Belwood 28021 Cherryville 28169 Waco 28150 Shelby 28136 Polkville 28168 28033 Crouse 28020 Casar
Other ZIP codes in Cleveland County
28017 28020 28073 28086 28089 28090 28114 28136 28150 28152 28169 All Cleveland 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.