Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Goldsboro, NC

Goldsboro, NC is in USDA zones 8a to 8b across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost November 12.

Goldsboro on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones8a–8b10 to 20 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostMar 28
First frostNov 12
Growing season231 days

8a 4 ZIPs   8b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Goldsboro, NC…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Goldsboro, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season231 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 15 and returns around November 24.

From the NOAA station Goldsboro Ag 1 N, NC, elevation 108 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Goldsboro

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 28) and first fall frost (Nov 12) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 27533 came on Feb 21 — 9 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 12).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8a in North Carolina

619 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 92

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 136

Allegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 191

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 173

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Goldsboro, NC.

Soil in Goldsboro, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 27533 is Dragston — loamy fine sand, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Dragston loamy sand.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 27533; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Goldsboro, NC

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days37days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights60nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,889base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation52.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 71 °F 88°71° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 69 °F 86°69° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 6.08 in precipitation 6.1 AugSeptember: 7.27 in precipitation 7.3 SepOctober: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 NovDecember: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Goldsboro Ag 1 N, NC (4 mi away); precipitation: Goldsboro Ag 1 N, NC (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Goldsboro

275308a
10 to 15 °F
275318b
15 to 20 °F
275328a
10 to 15 °F
275338a
10 to 15 °F
275348a
10 to 15 °F

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Goldsboro

What planting zone is Goldsboro, NC?

Goldsboro, NC is in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F; 8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Goldsboro, NC?

The median last spring frost is March 28 and the median first fall frost is November 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Goldsboro Ag 1 N station).

When can I plant a garden in Goldsboro, NC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 14 – Mar 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 4, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Goldsboro, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 33 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Goldsboro, NC get?

About 52.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).