Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28368 (Harnett 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, Sanford 8 NE, NC (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)203 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 (42 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 (42 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 28368 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 26 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 30: 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 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 10 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 25 |
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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 30 |
| 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 22 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 10 | Oct 30 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 28 | Nov 7 |
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 28368
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Oct 30). 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 4–25 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 24–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 24–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 10–31 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Mar 27–Apr 17 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 6–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 10–24 (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 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (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 21–Sep 18 (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: Sanford 8 NE, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00317656), elevation 262 ft, 12.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lillington, NC | 17 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 6 |
| Carthage WTP, NC | 17 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 5 |
| Dunn 4 NW, NC | 24 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 28368
When is the last frost in 28368?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28368 is April 10. For a more cautious planting date, use April 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 28368?
The average first fall freeze is October 30. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 15.
What hardiness zone is 28368?
ZIP 28368 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 28368 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
27332 Sanford 28355 27505 Broadway 28326 Cameron 27330 Sanford 28394 Vass 28390 Anderson Creek 28350
Other ZIP codes in Harnett County
27501 27505 27506 27521 27526 27546 28323 28326 28339 28390 All Harnett County frost dates · North Carolina frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.