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

Planting zone for 28773 — Saluda, NC

ZIP code 28773 (Saluda, Polk County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is March 27 and the first fall frost November 12.

Where ZIP 28773 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 frostMar 27

First frostNov 12

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 Saluda, 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 Saluda, NC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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

Last spring frostMarch 27median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsApril 14only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Oct 29

Growing season231 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 14 and returns around November 27.

From the NOAA station Tryon, NC — 4 miles away, elevation 1,319 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 28773

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27

SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Mar 6

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 6 – Mar 20

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20

LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20

TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13

TomatoesTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24

BeansSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 27) and first fall frost (Nov 12) 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 28773 came on Feb 22 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22).

average
Feb 222026
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 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.

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 Saluda, NC.

Soil in Saluda, NC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 28773 is Evard — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy 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 matter3%moderate

Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Evard-Cowee complex, escarpment, 30 to 50 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 28773; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saluda, NC

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July

Winter low32 °Faverage low, January

Hot days33days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights51nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days4,494base 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

Precipitation69 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: Tryon, NC (4 mi away); precipitation: Saluda 0.5 N, NC (3 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.

East Flat Rock, NC · 7 mi

Mill Spring, NC · 8 mi

287828a

Tryon, NC · 9 mi

North Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 28773

What planting zone is ZIP code 28773?

ZIP code 28773 (Saluda, 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 Saluda, NC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 28773 is March 27; after April 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tryon station.

When is the first frost in Saluda, NC?

The median first fall frost near 28773 is November 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 231 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 28773?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 30 – Feb 13 and set transplants outside around Apr 3 – Apr 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 28773 get?

About 69 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saluda 0.5 N station).

How hot do summers get in Saluda, NC?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 33 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 28773 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Evard at the center of ZIP 28773: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Saluda, NC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 28773 came on Feb 22 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saluda, NC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 28773 is 14 h 32 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.