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

Planting zone for 27052 — Walnut Cove, NC

ZIP code 27052 (Walnut Cove, Stokes County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 27052 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 11
First frostOct 30
2012 zone7a

Was 7a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Walnut Cove, 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 Walnut Cove, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 18
Growing season202 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 27 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Danbury, NC — 7 miles away, elevation 1,020 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 27052

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 27052 came on Mar 1 — 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 Walnut Cove, NC.

Soil in Walnut Cove, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 27052 is Clover — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Clover fine sandy loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes.

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 27052; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Walnut Cove, NC

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days34days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights101nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,161base 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
Precipitation47.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall9 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 29 °F 48°29° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.75 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 3.8❄3 JanFebruary: 2.93 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 2.9❄3 FebMarch: 4.09 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 4.1❄1 MarApril: 3.93 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.9 AprMay: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 SepOctober: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.96 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 4.0❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Danbury, NC (7 mi away); precipitation: Danbury, NC (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

270427b
Pine Hall, NC · 5 mi
270197b
Germanton, NC · 5 mi
270098a
Belews Creek, NC · 7 mi
270518a
Walkertown, NC · 9 mi
270167b
Danbury, NC · 10 mi
270947b
Rural Hall, NC · 10 mi
270987b
Rural Hall, NC · 10 mi
270997b
Rural Hall, NC · 10 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 27052

What planting zone is ZIP code 27052?

ZIP code 27052 (Walnut Cove, NC) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Walnut Cove, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 27052 is April 11; after April 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Danbury station.

When is the first frost in Walnut Cove, NC?

The median first fall frost near 27052 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 202 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 27052?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 27052 get?

About 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 9 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Danbury station).

How hot do summers get in Walnut Cove, NC?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 34 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 27052 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Clover at the center of ZIP 27052: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Walnut Cove, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 27052 came on Mar 1 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Walnut Cove, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 27052 is 14 h 38 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 27052 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 27052 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.