Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 28773 (Saluda, 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, Tryon, NC (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)231 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°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 (18 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 28773 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 early March to early April; fall late August to mid-September.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 12 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 12: 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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 27 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 14 |
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 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 12 |
| 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 7 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 27 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 14 | Nov 27 |
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 28773
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 27) and first fall frost (Nov 12). 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 30–Feb 13 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 16–30 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 16–30 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 6–27 (transplant) Feb 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (transplant) Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 13–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 27 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 2–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 2–16 | Apr 3–10 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 13–27 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (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: Tryon, NC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00318744), elevation 1,320 ft, 4.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendersonville 1 NE, NC | 10 mi | Apr 14 | Oct 25 |
| Lake Lure 2, NC | 13 mi | Apr 5 | Oct 30 |
| Forest City 8 W, NC | 18 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 18 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 28773
When is the last frost in 28773?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 28773 is March 27. For a more cautious planting date, use April 14, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 28773?
The average first fall freeze is November 12. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 28773?
ZIP 28773 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 28773 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
28731 Flat Rock 28726 East Flat Rock 29356 Landrum 28756 28782 Tryon 28792 Edneyville 28790 28739 Etowah
Other ZIP codes in Polk County
28722 28756 28782 All Polk County frost dates · North Carolina frost dates
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