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

Planting zone for 27531 — Goldsboro, NC

ZIP code 27531 (Goldsboro, Wayne County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 15 and the first fall frost November 18.

Where ZIP 27531 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 15
First frostNov 18
2012 zone8a

Was 8a 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 8b means →

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 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 18median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season250 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 28 and returns around December 4.

From the NOAA station Goldsboro 4 Se, NC — within 1 mile, 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 27531

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 23 – Oct 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 4 – Dec 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 15) and first fall frost (Nov 18) 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 27531 came on Feb 19 — 7 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 8b in North Carolina

635 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. 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 141

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 196

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 179

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 27531 is Lumbee — sandy loam, poorly drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.7strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Lumbee sandy loam.

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 27531; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Goldsboro, NC

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days61days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights42nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,559base 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
Precipitation52.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year; 2 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 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° JanFebruary: average high 58 °F, low 36 °F 58°36° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 72 °F 91°72° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 66 °F 83°66° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″January: 3.55 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 3.5❄1 JanFebruary: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 5.42 in precipitation 5.4 JulAugust: 6.42 in precipitation 6.4 AugSeptember: 7.03 in precipitation 7.0 SepOctober: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.60 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.6❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Goldsboro 4 Se, NC (within 1 mile); precipitation: Goldsboro 4 Se, NC (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

275348a
Goldsboro, NC · 5 mi
283338a
Dudley, NC · 5 mi
275338a
Goldsboro, NC · 5 mi
275328a
Goldsboro, NC · 5 mi
275308a
Goldsboro, NC · 6 mi
278638a
Pikeville, NC · 10 mi
285518a
La Grange, NC · 11 mi
285788a
Seven Springs, NC · 12 mi

All 5 ZIP codes in Goldsboro → · North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 27531

What planting zone is ZIP code 27531?

ZIP code 27531 (Goldsboro, NC) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Goldsboro, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 27531 is March 15; after April 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Goldsboro 4 Se station.

When is the first frost in Goldsboro, NC?

The median first fall frost near 27531 is November 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 250 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 27531?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 18 – Feb 1 and set transplants outside around Mar 22 – Apr 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 27531 get?

About 52.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Goldsboro 4 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Goldsboro, NC?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 61 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 27531 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lumbee at the center of ZIP 27531: sandy loam, poorly drained, pH about 4.7 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Goldsboro, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 27531 came on Feb 19 in 2026, 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Goldsboro, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 27531 is 14 h 33 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 27531 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 27531 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.