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

Planting zone for 28520 — Cedar Island, NC

ZIP code 28520 (Cedar Island, Carteret County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 11 and the first fall frost November 30.

Where ZIP 28520 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 11

First frostNov 30

2012 zone8b

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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Cedar Island, 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 Cedar Island, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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

Last spring frostMarch 11median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsMarch 30only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostNovember 30median — 10% chance by Nov 11

Growing season261 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 27 and returns around December 17.

From the NOAA station Cedar Is, NC — 9 miles away, elevation 7 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 28520

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11

SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 18

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 18 – Mar 4

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4

LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4

TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28

TomatoesTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8

BeansSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 5 – Oct 19

GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 16 – Dec 21

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 11) and first fall frost (Nov 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 28520 came on Feb 20 — 13 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7).

average
Feb 72026
Feb 20

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.

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 Cedar Island, NC.

Soil in Cedar Island, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28520 is Dare — muck, very poorly drained.

TextureMucktop layer

DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds

Organic matter65%high

Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dare muck.

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 28520; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cedar Island, NC

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July

Winter low38 °Faverage low, January

Hot days49days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights34nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days6,382base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 31 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 48 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully

Precipitation59.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cedar Is, NC (9 mi away); precipitation: Cedar Is, NC (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

Williston, NC · 14 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28520

What planting zone is ZIP code 28520?

ZIP code 28520 (Cedar Island, 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 Cedar Island, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28520 is March 11; after March 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cedar Is station.

When is the first frost in Cedar Island, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28520 is November 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 261 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28520?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 14 – Jan 28 and set transplants outside around Mar 18 – Apr 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28520 get?

About 59.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cedar Is station).

How hot do summers get in Cedar Island, NC?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 49 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 28520 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dare at the center of ZIP 28520: muck, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Cedar Island, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28520 came on Feb 20 in 2026, 13 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cedar Island, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28520 is 14 h 31 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.