When Is the Last Frost in North Carolina?
The average last spring frost in North Carolina falls between March 22 and April 19 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of March 31. At the average date a later frost is still a coin flip, so tender plants wait for the safer 90% date.
| City | Last frost | 90% safe after | First frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Mar 30 | Apr 14 | Nov 3 | 221 days |
| Raleigh | Mar 28 | Apr 12 | Nov 8 | 229 days |
| Greensboro | Apr 1 | Apr 14 | Nov 4 | 217 days |
| Durham | Apr 2 | Apr 18 | Nov 4 | 217 days |
| Winston-Salem | Mar 26 | Apr 11 | Nov 9 | 228 days |
| Fayetteville | Mar 30 | Apr 16 | Nov 10 | 227 days |
| Cary | Mar 27 | Apr 10 | Nov 8 | 227 days |
| Wilmington | Mar 19 | Apr 4 | Nov 20 | 247 days |
| High Point | Mar 30 | Apr 15 | Nov 5 | 220 days |
| Concord | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | Nov 2 | 215 days |
| Greenville | Mar 27 | Apr 10 | Nov 8 | 227 days |
| Asheville | Apr 6 | Apr 24 | Oct 31 | 205 days |
| Gastonia | Mar 27 | Apr 9 | Nov 9 | 228 days |
| Jacksonville | Mar 23 | Apr 7 | Nov 16 | 240 days |
| Burlington | Apr 1 | Apr 17 | Nov 2 | 215 days |
| Rocky Mount | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | Nov 5 | 219 days |
| Mooresville | Apr 9 | Apr 24 | Oct 28 | 203 days |
| Wilson | Mar 22 | Apr 8 | Nov 12 | 236 days |
| Boone | May 2 | May 19 | Oct 13 | 163 days |
Last and first frost: 50% (median) dates of the last spring and first fall 32 °F night. 90% safe after: only a 10% chance of a later spring frost. First frost dates in January fall in the following winter. Each city uses the NOAA station nearest the ZIP code closest to its center.
Across all 187 North Carolina weather stations with frost records, median last frost dates run from March 1 at Frisco 2 NNE, NC to May 16 at Mt Mitchell, NC. Elevation, valleys that collect cold air and distance from large water bodies explain most of the spread, so a garden a few miles from a listed city can differ by a week or more. The ZIP code lookup above uses the same NOAA data as the frost date calculator for every US ZIP code.
When Is the First Frost in North Carolina?
The average first fall frost in North Carolina arrives between October 23 and November 15 for most ZIP codes, with a median of November 4. Tomatoes, peppers, basil and squash are damaged at 32 °F, so harvest or cover them before then.
Fall frost can come early: Charlotte has a 10% chance of frost before October 22, Raleigh has a 10% chance of frost before October 28 and Greensboro has a 10% chance of frost before October 23. Hardy crops such as kale, spinach and cabbage tolerate light frosts and keep producing after the first frost date.
When to Plant Tomatoes in North Carolina?
Transplant tomatoes in North Carolina 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Apr 6 – Apr 13 in Charlotte, Apr 4 – Apr 11 in Raleigh and Apr 8 – Apr 15 in Greensboro. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
| City | Start seeds indoors | Transplant outdoors | Lowest-risk transplant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | after Apr 14 |
| Raleigh | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 11 | after Apr 12 |
| Greensboro | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 15 | after Apr 14 |
| Durham | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | after Apr 18 |
| Winston-Salem | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | after Apr 11 |
| Fayetteville | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | after Apr 16 |
| Cary | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 3 – Apr 10 | after Apr 10 |
| Wilmington | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | after Apr 4 |
| High Point | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | after Apr 15 |
| Concord | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 15 | after Apr 16 |
| Greenville | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 3 – Apr 10 | after Apr 10 |
| Asheville | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | after Apr 24 |
| Gastonia | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 3 – Apr 10 | after Apr 9 |
| Jacksonville | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | after Apr 7 |
| Burlington | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 15 | after Apr 17 |
| Rocky Mount | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 15 | after Apr 16 |
| Mooresville | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | after Apr 24 |
| Wilson | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 29 – Apr 5 | after Apr 8 |
| Boone | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | May 9 – May 16 | after May 19 |
Indoors: 6–8 weeks before the average last frost. Outdoors: 1–2 weeks after it. Lowest-risk: after the date with only a 10% chance of a later frost. Rules of thumb; check the 10-day forecast and wait for soil near 60 °F.
Tomatoes stall below about 50 °F at night and are killed by frost, so a week or two of waiting after the average date costs little. The tomato plant care guide covers light, watering and feeding once plants are in the ground.
What Can You Plant in Charlotte and When?
Charlotte's average last frost of March 30 anchors its spring planting calendar: peas and spinach go in from February 16, broccoli and lettuce transplants from March 2, and tomatoes, peppers and squash after April 6.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Frost tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peas | — | Feb 16 – Mar 2direct sow, 4–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Spinach | — | Feb 16 – Mar 9direct sow, 3–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Radishes | — | Feb 23 – Mar 9direct sow, 3–5 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Onions (sets) | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Broccoli & cabbage | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Mar 2 – Mar 16transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Lettuce | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Mar 2 – Mar 16transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Beets | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16direct sow, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Carrots | — | Mar 9 – Mar 16direct sow, 2–3 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Tomatoes | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 6 – Apr 13transplant, 1–2 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Basil | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 6 – Apr 20transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Peppers | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 20transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Eggplant | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 20transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Green beans | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Cucumbers | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – Apr 20transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Squash & zucchini | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – Apr 20transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Watermelon | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | Apr 13 – Apr 20transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
Dates for Charlotte (last frost Mar 30, NOAA station Charlotte Douglas AP, NC, 7 miles from ZIP 28204). General rules of thumb; wait for soil near 50 °F for most seeds and 60 °F for beans, corn and squash.
How Long Is the Growing Season in North Carolina?
The frost-free growing season in North Carolina lasts about 186 to 238 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 220 days. Among the listed cities, Boone has the shortest season at 163 days and Wilmington the longest at 247.
Season length decides which varieties ripen: compare it with the “days to maturity” on seed packets, counted from transplanting for tomatoes and peppers. NOAA stations in North Carolina range from 140 days at Mt Mitchell, NC to 293 days at Ocracoke, NC. Planning beds before the season starts helps in short seasons — a plant spacing calculator for vegetable beds shows how many transplants fit.
What Hardiness Zones Are in North Carolina?
North Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 9a, with zone 8a the most common. Zones describe winter cold and decide which perennials survive, while frost dates set when to plant annual vegetables and flowers.
The North Carolina planting zone map with the zone of each city shows how the zones are spread across the state and which plants are hardy in all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the last frost in North Carolina?
- The average last spring frost in North Carolina falls between March 22 and April 19 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of March 31. Among major cities it ranges from March 19 in Wilmington to May 2 in Boone.
- When is the last frost in Charlotte, North Carolina?
- Charlotte's average last spring frost is March 30, and by April 14 the chance of a later frost drops to 10%. Its first fall frost averages November 3, giving a 221-day growing season (NOAA station Charlotte Douglas AP, NC).
- When should you plant tomatoes in North Carolina?
- Transplant tomatoes in North Carolina 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Apr 6 – Apr 13 in Charlotte, Apr 4 – Apr 11 in Raleigh and Apr 8 – Apr 15 in Greensboro. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
- When is the first frost in North Carolina?
- The average first fall frost in North Carolina arrives between October 23 and November 15 for most ZIP codes, with a median of November 4. Harvest tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers and basil before then or cover them on cold nights.
- How long is the growing season in North Carolina?
- The frost-free growing season in North Carolina lasts about 186 to 238 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 220 days, from 163 days in Boone to 247 days in Wilmington.
Frost data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (32 °F freeze dates by probability). ZIP code and city locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. Planting windows are general rules of thumb. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.