North Carolina frost dates
Typical and safer frost dates for 2 cities in North Carolina, each from its nearest NOAA station. Elevation matters here as much as latitude, so check the city closest to you.
| City | Last frost · typical | Last frost · safer | First frost · typical | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Mar 30 | Apr 14 | Nov 3 | 221 |
| Raleigh | Mar 28 | Apr 12 | Nov 8 | 229 |
Planting calendar for Charlotte
The largest city we cover in North Carolina. Other cities: see their own page.
Frost dates
Mar 30
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Apr 14. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Nov 3
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 22. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
221
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 221 days. Station: Charlotte Douglas Airport, NC, 11 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
February
The next window opens in February.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 3
- Start indoors
- Feb 3 – Feb 17
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 3
- Start indoors
- Feb 3 – Feb 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 14
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Feb 17
- Start indoors
- Feb 17 – Mar 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Feb 17
- Start indoors
- Feb 17 – Mar 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 17
- Start indoors
- Feb 17 – Mar 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 17 – Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow for fall
- Jul 30 – Aug 13
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 17
- Start indoors
- Feb 17 – Mar 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 17 – Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow for fall
- Jul 30 – Aug 13
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 17
- Start indoors
- Feb 17 – Mar 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 24 – Apr 14
- Sow for fall
- Jul 30 – Aug 13
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 17
- Start indoors
- Feb 17 – Mar 3
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 24 – Mar 24
- Sow for fall
- Jul 30 – Aug 13
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 17
- Start indoors
- Feb 17 – Feb 17
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 17
- Start indoors
- Feb 17 – Mar 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 14
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 17
- Start indoors
- Feb 17 – Mar 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
March
The next window opens in March.
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 3 – Mar 31
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 3 – Mar 31
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 3
- Start indoors
- Mar 3 – Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 3
- Start indoors
- Mar 3 – Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 3
- Start indoors
- Mar 3 – Mar 17
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 21
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 21
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – Apr 28
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 21 – Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – Apr 28
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 24
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – Apr 28
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow for fall
- Jul 30 – Aug 13
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 17 – Apr 14
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 24
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 24 – Mar 24
- Sow for fall
- Jul 30 – Aug 13
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 24
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 24 – Mar 24
- Sow for fall
- Jul 30 – Aug 13
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 14
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 14
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 14
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 14
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 7
April
The next window opens in April.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Apr 14
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – Apr 28
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 28 – Apr 28
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 10
- Sow for fall
- Sep 10 – Sep 10
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.