Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28528 (Gloucester, 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, Beaufort Michael J Smith Fld, NC (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)265 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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 28528 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 Apr 25 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
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 22–Oct 20
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 6–27
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 6–27
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 6–Nov 3
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 22–Oct 20
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 1: 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 18 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 10 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 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) | Nov 10 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 21 | Nov 15 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 10 | Dec 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 23 | Dec 17 |
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 28528
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 10) and first fall frost (Dec 1). 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 13–27 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 13–27 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 13–27 | Feb 17–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–27 (transplant) Sep 22–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 27–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (transplant) Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (transplant) Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 16–30 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 17 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 3–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 20–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 16–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 16–30 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 20–Nov 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Oct 20–Nov 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 10–17 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 10–17 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 16–30 | Mar 17–24 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 22–Oct 20 (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: Beaufort Michael J Smith Fld, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00093765), elevation 11 ft, 6.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morehead City 2 WNW, NC | 11 mi | Mar 18 | Nov 21 |
| Atlantic Beach WTP, NC | 12 mi | Mar 3 | Dec 13 |
| Newport/morehead City WFO, NC | 19 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 16 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 23 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 28528
When is the last frost in 28528?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28528 is March 10. For a more cautious planting date, use March 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 28528?
The average first fall freeze is December 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 10.
What hardiness zone is 28528?
ZIP 28528 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 28528 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
28553 Marshallberg 28531 Harkers Island 28589 28579 28524 Davis 28581 28516 Beaufort 28557 Morehead City
Other ZIP codes in Carteret County
28511 28512 28516 28520 28524 28531 28553 28557 28570 28575 28577 28579 28581 28584 28589 28594 All Carteret 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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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.