Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28480 (Wrightsville Beach, 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, Wilmington 7 SE, NC (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)241 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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 28480 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 5 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 20–Oct 18
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 15: 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) | Feb 28 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 8 |
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) | Nov 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 15 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 2 | Nov 5 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 20 | Nov 15 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 3 | Nov 28 |
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 28480
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 20) and first fall frost (Nov 15). 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 | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 9–23 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 9–23 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 27–Mar 20 (transplant) Feb 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 11 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 20–Mar 20 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 9–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 9–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–27 (transplant) Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 13–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 20–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 20–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 20–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 20–27 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 20–27 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Mar 27–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 6–20 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (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: Wilmington 7 SE, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00319461), elevation 30 ft, 6.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Intl AP, NC | 7 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| Wilmington 7 N, NC | 10 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
| Southport 5 N, NC | 19 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 17 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 28480
When is the last frost in 28480?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28480 is March 20. For a more cautious planting date, use April 8, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 28480?
The average first fall freeze is November 15. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 28480?
ZIP 28480 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 28480 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
28403 Wilmington 28405 Wilmington 28409 Wilmington 28411 Murraysville 28412 Wilmington 28429 Skippers Corner 28401 Wilmington 28428 Carolina Beach
Other ZIP codes in New Hanover County
28401 28403 28405 28409 28411 28412 28428 28429 28449 All New Hanover 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.