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

Planting zone for 28072 — Granite Quarry, NC

ZIP code 28072 (Granite Quarry, Rowan County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 28072 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 6
First frostOct 30
2012 zone7b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Granite Quarry, 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 Granite Quarry, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 19
Growing season208 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 25 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Salisbury, NC — 6 miles away, elevation 699 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 28072

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
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 6) 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 28072 came on Feb 22 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23).

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 Granite Quarry, NC.

Soil in Granite Quarry, NC

The center of ZIP 28072 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 28072; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Granite Quarry, NC

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days37days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights71nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,528base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 45 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.4 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 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 MarApril: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Salisbury, NC (6 mi away); precipitation: Faith 0.3 Wnw, NC (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

280417b
Faith, NC · 2 mi
281468a
Salisbury, NC · 3 mi
280398a
East Spencer, NC · 5 mi
281457b
Salisbury, NC · 5 mi
281598a
Spencer, NC · 6 mi
281387b
Rockwell, NC · 7 mi
281448a
Salisbury, NC · 7 mi
281477b
Salisbury, NC · 8 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28072

What planting zone is ZIP code 28072?

ZIP code 28072 (Granite Quarry, 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 Granite Quarry, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28072 is April 6; after April 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Salisbury station.

When is the first frost in Granite Quarry, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28072 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 208 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28072?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 9 – Feb 23 and set transplants outside around Apr 13 – Apr 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28072 get?

About 46.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Faith 0.3 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Granite Quarry, NC?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 37 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Granite Quarry, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28072 came on Feb 22 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Granite Quarry, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28072 is 14 h 34 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.