Frost dates for 28743Hot Springs, NC
The average last spring frost in Hot Springs is April 30 and the average first fall frost is October 12, giving a typical growing season of about 164 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- Apr 30
- Average first fall frost
- Oct 12
- Growing season
- 164 days
Safer after May 15 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Oct 3 (1-in-10 risk)
Last frost typically in 178 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | Apr 27 · May 10 · May 28 | Sep 24 · Oct 5 · Oct 16 | 146 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Apr 14 · Apr 30 · May 15 | Oct 3 · Oct 12 · Oct 22 | 164 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Mar 31 · Apr 15 · May 2 | Oct 9 · Oct 20 · Nov 1 | 187 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Hot Springs
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Mar 30 – Jun 5 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | May 16 – Jun 22 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Mar 30 – Apr 30 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | May 30 – Jun 30 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Apr 16 – May 15 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | May 30 – Jun 30 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | May 30 – Jul 2 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | May 16 – Jun 30 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | May 30 – Jun 30 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | May 16 – Jul 25 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | May 16 – Jun 22 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | May 30 – Jun 30 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | May 23 – Jun 15 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 30 – May 15 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Mar 30 – May 30 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 16 – Mar 15 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 16 – May 15 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 12 – Apr 15 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 16 – May 15 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 12 – Jun 22 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 12 – Jul 23 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 2 – Mar 30 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 30 – Apr 30 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 2 – Jul 2 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 2 – Aug 2 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 30 – Jun 15 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 2 – Aug 18 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 23 – May 6 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 19 – Aug 23 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 30 – May 20 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 2 – Sep 2 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 16 – May 6 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 25 – Aug 2 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 30 – Jun 15 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 2 – Jul 18 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Oct 2 – Nov 2 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 28743 is matched to the NOAA station Cataloochee, NC, 25.9 km away, at 2,650 ft elevation (19 ft higher than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cataloochee, NC (used) | 2,650 ft | Apr 30 | Oct 12 |
| Hot Springs, NC | 1,345 ft | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| Waterville 2, NC | 1,430 ft | Apr 6 | Nov 1 |
| Marshall, NC | 1,920 ft | Apr 28 | Oct 18 |
Frost dates near Hot Springs
- Del Rio, TN 37727 · last Apr 6, first Nov 1
- Hartford, TN 37753 · last Apr 6, first Nov 1
- Marshall, NC 28753 · last Apr 28, first Oct 18
- Leicester, NC 28748 · last Apr 19, first Oct 22
- Parrottsville, TN 37843 · last Apr 7, first Oct 29
- Alexander, NC 28701 · last Apr 28, first Oct 18
- Clyde, NC 28721 · last Apr 30, first Oct 14
- Cosby, TN 37722 · last Apr 6, first Nov 1
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Hot Springs, NC?
- For ZIP code 28743, the average last spring frost (32°F) is April 30, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Cataloochee, NC weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after May 15.
- When is the first frost in Hot Springs, NC?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is October 12. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by October 3, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 28743?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 164 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.