When to Plant in North Carolina: Vegetable & Flower Planting Calendar
Quick answer
Plant around your local last spring frost: across the 853 North Carolina ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median is Mar 31 and the median first fall frost is Nov 4 (nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020). Transplant tomatoes 1–2 weeks after your last frost: Zone 7 areas: Apr 22 – Apr 29; Zone 8 areas: Apr 6 – Apr 13.
North Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 6b–9a on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). For the 853 of its 853 ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the nearest NOAA station’s median last spring frost (32°F, 1991–2020) is Mar 31 (middle 80% of ZIP codes: Mar 22 – Apr 19) and the median first fall frost is Nov 4 (Oct 23 – Nov 15). Use this guide to time seed-starting, transplanting and fall planting.
Where these dates come from: every date range is counted from the median (50% probability) 32°F last spring and first fall frost dates in NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the area shown. The rule under each date, such as “4–6 weeks before last frost,” shows how it was counted. These are averages: in about half of years a frost still comes after the spring date, and elevation, nearby water and microclimate can shift your yard by a week or more. For dates for your exact location, enter your ZIP code in the planner.
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
North Carolina frost dates by zone area
| Zone areas | Most common nearest NOAA stations | Median last spring frost (32°F) | Median first fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7 (205 ZIP codes) | Elkin, NC, Danbury, NC, Hendersonville 1 Ne, NC | Apr 15middle 80%: Apr 5 – Apr 30 | Oct 25middle 80%: Oct 13 – Nov 1 |
| Zone 8 (616 ZIP codes) | Charlotte Douglas Airport, NC, Concord, NC, Albemarle, NC | Mar 30middle 80%: Mar 22 – Apr 6 | Nov 6middle 80%: Oct 31 – Nov 16 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal freeze-date probabilities (32°F, 50% probability). Station-level medians; your yard may differ.
How this table is built: each North Carolina ZIP code is matched to its nearest NOAA 1991–2020 freeze-data station (within 60 miles) and grouped by its 2023 USDA hardiness zone; dates are medians across the ZIP codes in each group. Zone groups with fewer than 5% of ZIP codes (29 ZIP codes) are left out of the columns. Some nearest stations are across the state line (Caesars Head, SC, Chesterfield 3 E, SC, Clarksville, VA, Danville 2 Se, VA, Danville Rgnl Airport, VA, Fentress Naas, VA…). For your own ZIP, use the planner.
North Carolina vegetable planting calendar
Planting dates for each zone area of North Carolina, counted from that area’s median frost dates (shown under each column). Rows run in calendar order. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP.
| Plant, task and rule | Zone 7 areasLast frost Apr 15 · First frost Oct 25 | Zone 8 areasLast frost Mar 30 · First frost Nov 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Cabbage · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Kale · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Tomatoes · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Feb 2 – Feb 16 |
| Peppers · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Feb 2 – Feb 16 |
| Eggplant · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Feb 2 – Feb 16 |
| Peas · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 4 – Mar 18Harvest (est.) May 3 – Jun 6 | Feb 16 – Mar 2Harvest (est.) Apr 17 – May 21 |
| Spinach · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 4 – Mar 18Harvest (est.) Apr 18 – May 17 | Feb 16 – Mar 2Harvest (est.) Apr 2 – May 1 |
| Basil · Start indoors4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Radishes · Direct sow2–5 weeks before last frost | Mar 11 – Apr 1Harvest (est.) Mar 31 – May 1 | Feb 23 – Mar 16Harvest (est.) Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Lettuce · Direct sow2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 18 – Apr 1Harvest (est.) May 17 – Jun 20 | Mar 2 – Mar 16Harvest (est.) May 1 – Jun 4 |
| Onions (sets/transplants) · Plant sets/transplants2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 18 – Apr 1Harvest (est.) Jun 11 – Jul 30 | Mar 2 – Mar 16Harvest (est.) May 26 – Jul 14 |
| Broccoli · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 18 – Apr 1Harvest (est.) May 7 – Jun 10 | Mar 2 – Mar 16Harvest (est.) Apr 21 – May 25 |
| Cabbage · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 18 – Apr 1Harvest (est.) May 27 – Jun 30 | Mar 2 – Mar 16Harvest (est.) May 11 – Jun 14 |
| Kale · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Marigolds · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | Mar 9 – Mar 30 |
| Zinnias · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | Mar 9 – Mar 30 |
| Potatoes · Plant seed potatoes1–2 weeks before last frost | Apr 1 – Apr 8Harvest (est.) Jun 25 – Jul 27 | Mar 16 – Mar 23Harvest (est.) Jun 9 – Jul 11 |
| Marigolds · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Zinnias · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Tomatoes · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 22 – Apr 29Harvest (est.) Jul 1 – Jul 28 | Apr 6 – Apr 13Harvest (est.) Jun 15 – Jul 12 |
| Beans (bush & pole) · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 22 – Apr 29Harvest (est.) Jun 6 – Jul 8 | Apr 6 – Apr 13Harvest (est.) May 21 – Jun 22 |
| Sweet corn · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 22 – Apr 29Harvest (est.) Jun 26 – Jul 28 | Apr 6 – Apr 13Harvest (est.) Jun 10 – Jul 12 |
| Cucumbers · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 22 – Apr 29Harvest (est.) Jun 1 – Jul 3 | Apr 6 – Apr 13Harvest (est.) May 16 – Jun 17 |
| Squash · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 22 – Apr 29Harvest (est.) Jun 1 – Jun 18 | Apr 6 – Apr 13Harvest (est.) May 16 – Jun 2 |
| Pumpkins · Direct sow1–3 weeks after last frost | Apr 22 – May 6Harvest (est.) Jul 11 – Aug 14 | Apr 6 – Apr 20Harvest (est.) Jun 25 – Jul 29 |
| Basil · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 22 – Apr 29Harvest (est.) Jun 3 – Jun 10 | Apr 6 – Apr 13Harvest (est.) May 18 – May 25 |
| Peppers · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | Apr 29 – May 6Harvest (est.) Jul 3 – Jul 20 | Apr 13 – Apr 20Harvest (est.) Jun 17 – Jul 4 |
| Eggplant · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | Apr 29 – May 6Harvest (est.) Jul 8 – Aug 4 | Apr 13 – Apr 20Harvest (est.) Jun 22 – Jul 19 |
| Broccoli · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 2 – Aug 16Harvest (est.) Sep 21 – Oct 25 | Aug 14 – Aug 28Harvest (est.) Oct 3 – Nov 6 |
| Cabbage · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 2 – Aug 16Harvest (est.) Oct 11 – Nov 14 | Aug 14 – Aug 28Harvest (est.) Oct 23 – Nov 26 |
| Kale · Fall sow8–10 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 16 – Aug 30Harvest (est.) Oct 5 – Nov 8 | Aug 28 – Sep 11Harvest (est.) Oct 17 – Nov 20 |
| Lettuce · Fall sow6–8 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 30 – Sep 13Harvest (est.) Oct 29 – Dec 2 | Sep 11 – Sep 25Harvest (est.) Nov 10 – Dec 14 |
| Spinach · Fall sow4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech) | Sep 6 – Sep 27Harvest (est.) Oct 21 – Nov 26 | Sep 18 – Oct 9Harvest (est.) Nov 2 – Dec 8 |
| Radishes · Fall sow4–6 weeks before first fall frost | Sep 13 – Sep 27Harvest (est.) Oct 3 – Oct 27 | Sep 25 – Oct 9Harvest (est.) Oct 15 – Nov 8 |
| Daffodils · Fall plant bulbs4 weeks before to 2 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Sep 27 – Nov 8 | Oct 9 – Nov 20 |
| Tulips · Fall plant bulbs2 weeks before to 4 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Oct 11 – Nov 22 | Oct 23 – Dec 4 |
| Garlic · Fall plant cloves2 weeks before to 3 weeks after first fall frost, while the soil is still workable (SDSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech) | Oct 11 – Nov 15Harvest (est.) Jun 18, 2027 – Aug 12, 2027 | Oct 23 – Nov 27Harvest (est.) Jun 30, 2027 – Aug 24, 2027 |
About the harvest estimates
Each expected harvest window adds the days to harvest from the sources below to the planting window. Days count from sowing seed (or planting seed potatoes, onion sets or garlic cloves) or, where marked, from setting transplants out; “Start indoors” rows have no harvest of their own. Harvest timing varies with variety and weather, and many crops keep producing for weeks after the first picking. For frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, basil) the window stops at the first fall frost: harvest may end early at the first fall frost. Flowers and bulbs show no harvest window, and kale has no sourced figure for spring transplants.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension, Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1, “Days to Harvest”; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Onions in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Garlic in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Basil in a Home Garden.
Growing notes for each crop
- Peas: Tolerates light frost; sow when soil is workable
- Spinach: Fall crop too: sow 4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech)
- Lettuce: Bolts in heat; succession sow; fall crop too
- Radishes: Fast (3–4 weeks); sow again for fall (see Fall sow dates)
- Kale: Fall crop too (see Fall sow dates); frost sweetens leaves
- Onions (sets/transplants): Choose day-length type suited to your latitude
- Potatoes: Soil at least 45°F (UMD); hill as plants grow
- Broccoli: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Cabbage: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Tomatoes: Wait for nights reliably above about 52°F (Colorado State)
- Peppers: Need warm soil: about 65°F is optimal for transplanting (UC ANR)
- Eggplant: Transplant after nights stay above 50°F (UMN)
- Beans (bush & pole): Seeds rot in cold, wet soil
- Sweet corn: Soil 60°F+ (UNH, UMN); plant in blocks for pollination
- Cucumbers: Frost-tender; watch for cucumber beetles
- Squash: Frost-tender; watch for squash vine borer
- Pumpkins: For October pumpkins, many sow in late May–June
- Basil: Very cold-sensitive
- Marigolds: Easy warm-season annual
- Zinnias: Easy warm-season annual
- Tulips: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule. In zone 9, chill bulbs 12–16 weeks first (Clemson)
- Daffodils: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule; slightly earlier than tulips is fine
- Garlic: Harvest the following early summer
North Carolina USDA zone guides: Zone 6 planting guide Zone 7 planting guide Zone 8 planting guide Zone 9 planting guide
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Tips for North Carolina gardeners
- Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar — warm-season crops stall in cold soil. An inexpensive soil thermometer helps.
- Harden off transplants over 7–10 days before planting out (UC ANR, SDSU).
- Ask your local Cooperative Extension office about varieties and timing for your county; find it in the USDA NIFA land-grant university directory.
- Keep weeds down early — see our weed identification guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in North Carolina?
Across the 853 North Carolina ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median last spring frost (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020) at the nearest station is Mar 31, and the middle 80% of ZIP codes range from Mar 22 to Apr 19. Check the average for your ZIP code, and remember frost can occur after the average date.
When can I plant tomatoes in North Carolina?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after your average last frost, once nights stay above about 52°F (Colorado State). Typical dates: Zone 7 areas: Apr 22 – Apr 29; Zone 8 areas: Apr 6 – Apr 13.
What USDA zone is North Carolina?
North Carolina spans roughly USDA hardiness zones 6b–9a on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). Hardiness zones describe winter low temperatures, not frost dates.
Other state planting calendars
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