Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 28024 — Cliffside, NC

ZIP code 28024 (Cliffside, Rutherford County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 28024 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F

Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C

Last frostApr 12

First frostOct 25

2012 zone7b

Was 7b 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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Cliffside, 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 Cliffside, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostApril 12median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsApril 28only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 12

Growing season195 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 2.

From the NOAA station Shelby 2 Nw, NC — 12 miles away, elevation 820 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 28024

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15

SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 22

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5

LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5

TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1

TomatoesTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10

BeansSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 12) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 28024 came on Feb 22 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19).

average
Feb 192026
Feb 22

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.

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 Cliffside, NC.

Soil in Cliffside, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28024 is Pacolet — sandy clay loam, well drained.

TextureSandy clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up

pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter0.75%low — add compost

Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pacolet-Saw complex, 15 to 25 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 28024; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cliffside, NC

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July

Winter low27 °Faverage low, January

Hot days43days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights88nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days4,472base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 32 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 47 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

Snowfall5 inper year; 3 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Shelby 2 Nw, NC (12 mi away); precipitation: Forest City 6 Sw, NC (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

280768a

Henrietta, NC · 1 mi

281148a

Mooresboro, NC · 2 mi

280198a

Caroleen, NC · 3 mi

280178a

Boiling Springs, NC · 6 mi

280748a

Harris, NC · 6 mi

280438a

Forest City, NC · 7 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28024

What planting zone is ZIP code 28024?

ZIP code 28024 (Cliffside, NC) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Cliffside, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28024 is April 12; after April 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shelby 2 Nw station.

When is the first frost in Cliffside, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28024 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 195 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28024?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 15 – Mar 1 and set transplants outside around Apr 19 – May 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28024 get?

About 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 5 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Forest City 6 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Cliffside, NC?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 43 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 28024 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pacolet at the center of ZIP 28024: sandy clay loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Cliffside, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28024 came on Feb 22 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cliffside, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28024 is 14 h 32 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 28024 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 28024 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.