When to plant in North Carolina
Most of North Carolina sees its last spring frost between Mar 23 and Apr 16, and its first fall frost between Oct 25 and Nov 14. The middle of the state is around March 30 and November 4: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in North Carolina: 7a (6%), 7b (16%), 8a (60%), 8b (15%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 25 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 24 – Sep 16 | — |
| Pepper | Feb 11 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 29 – Sep 21 | — |
| Cucumber | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 9 – Jul 28 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 4 – Aug 13 | — |
| Winter squash | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jul 19 – Aug 23 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 9 – Jul 21 | — |
| Peas | — | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 17 – May 22 | Aug 15 – Aug 29 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 29 – Jul 27 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Apr 16 – May 28 | Sep 6 – Sep 20 |
| Spinach | — | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Mar 28 – May 9 | Sep 25 – Oct 9 |
| Kale | Jan 19 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Apr 26 – Jul 19 | Sep 24 – Oct 8 |
| Broccoli | Jan 26 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 8 – Jun 12 | Aug 29 – Sep 12 |
| Cabbage | Jan 19 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | May 11 – Jun 15 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 18 – Jun 29 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Beet | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 3 – Jun 14 | Sep 3 – Sep 17 |
| Radish | — | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Mar 20 – Apr 17 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Jun 3 – Jul 8 | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 28 – Nov 18 (fall) | May 25 – Jun 15 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Jun 7 – Jul 12 | — |
| Sweet potato | Mar 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jul 29 – Aug 26 | — |
| Watermelon | — | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jul 14 – Aug 18 | — |
| Basil | Mar 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | May 15 – Aug 21 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 27 – May 25 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jul 4 – Aug 8 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in North Carolina. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around North Carolina
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 8a | Mar 30 | Nov 3 |
| Raleigh | 8a | Mar 28 | Nov 8 |
| Greensboro | 8a | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
| Winston Salem | 8a | Mar 26 | Nov 9 |
| Durham | 8a | Apr 2 | Nov 4 |
| Wilmington | 8b | Mar 20 | Nov 15 |
| Asheville | 7b | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| Fayetteville | 8b | Mar 30 | Nov 10 |
| High Point | 8a | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
| Cary | 8a | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.