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

Planting zone for 28657 — Newland, NC

ZIP code 28657 (Newland, Avery County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 28657 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 20
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Newland, 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 Newland, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Spruce Pine 2 Ne, NC — 7 miles away, elevation 2,851 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 28657

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 28657 came on Mar 6 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24).

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 6b in North Carolina

548 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 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 80

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 115

Allegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 176

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 152

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 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °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 Newland, NC.

Soil in Newland, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28657 is Edneytown — 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 matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Edneytown-Pigeonroost complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes, stony.

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 28657; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Newland, NC

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights125nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,824base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation63.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 JanFebruary: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 FebMarch: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 6.55 in precipitation 6.5 MayJune: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 8.72 in precipitation 8.7 JulAugust: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 AugSeptember: 6.64 in precipitation 6.6 SepOctober: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Spruce Pine 2 Ne, NC (7 mi away); precipitation: Linville 2.4 Ene, NC (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

286167a
Crossnore, NC · <1 mi
286626b
Pineola, NC · 3 mi
286647a
Plumtree, NC · 4 mi
286536b
Montezuma, NC · 4 mi
286416b
Jonas Ridge, NC · 4 mi
286477a
Linville Falls, NC · 4 mi
286526b
Minneapolis, NC · 5 mi
286466b
Linville, NC · 6 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28657

What planting zone is ZIP code 28657?

ZIP code 28657 (Newland, NC) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Newland, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28657 is April 26; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Spruce Pine 2 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Newland, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28657 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 177 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28657?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28657 get?

About 63.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Linville 2.4 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Newland, NC?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 28657 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Edneytown at the center of ZIP 28657: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Newland, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28657 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Newland, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28657 is 14 h 37 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 28657 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 28657 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.