Frost dates & planting calendar for Charlotte, NC
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.
8a
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: 10 to 15°F (−12.2 to −9.4°C).
Zone for ZIP 28204, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 8a means.
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).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not yet. Start tomato seeds indoors from Feb 17 to Mar 3, then plant them out from Apr 14 to Apr 28.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Apr 14 in spring, Oct 22 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
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.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Charlotte?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Charlotte is Mar 30. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Apr 14.
- When is the first frost in Charlotte?
- The typical first fall frost is Nov 3. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 22.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Charlotte?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Feb 17 and Mar 3, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Charlotte in?
- Charlotte is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 28204, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
Nearby cities
- Raleigh, NC 210 km
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