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

Planting zone for North Wilkesboro, NC

North Wilkesboro, NC is in USDA zone 7b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost October 29.

North Wilkesboro on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 10
First frostOct 29
Growing season201 days

7b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 North Wilkesboro, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season201 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 27 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station N Wilkesboro, NC, elevation 1,119 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 North Wilkesboro

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 28656 came on Feb 26 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 28).

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 7b in North Carolina

596 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 89

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 129

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 186

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 165

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 North Wilkesboro, NC.

Soil in North Wilkesboro, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28656 is Fairview — sandy clay loam, well drained.

TextureSandy clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.7moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Fairview sandy clay loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, moderately eroded.

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 28656; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in North Wilkesboro, NC

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights104nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,013base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 38 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation51.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall6 inper year; 6 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 29 °F 52°29° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.40 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 4.4❄2 JanFebruary: 3.31 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 3.3❄1 FebMarch: 4.38 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.4 MarApril: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 AprMay: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.93 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 AugSeptember: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 4.36 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 4.4❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: N Wilkesboro, NC (8 mi away); precipitation: N Wilkesboro, NC (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in North Wilkesboro

286567b
5 to 10 °F
286597b
5 to 10 °F

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about North Wilkesboro

What planting zone is North Wilkesboro, NC?

North Wilkesboro, NC is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in North Wilkesboro, NC?

The median last spring frost is April 10 and the median first fall frost is October 29 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N Wilkesboro station).

When can I plant a garden in North Wilkesboro, NC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 27 – Mar 20; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 17, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in North Wilkesboro, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 38 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does North Wilkesboro, NC get?

About 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).