Frost dates & planting calendar for Raleigh, NC
Frost dates
Mar 28
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Apr 12. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Nov 8
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 28. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
229
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 27609, 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: 229 days. Station: Raleigh State Univ, NC, 7 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 15 to Mar 1, then plant them out from Apr 12 to Apr 26.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Apr 12 in spring, Oct 28 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 1
- Start indoors
- Feb 1 – Feb 15
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 26
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 1
- Start indoors
- Feb 1 – Feb 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 26
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 26
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 15 – Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow for fall
- Aug 5 – Aug 19
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 15 – Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow for fall
- Aug 5 – Aug 19
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 22 – Apr 12
- Sow for fall
- Aug 5 – Aug 19
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 22 – Mar 22
- Sow for fall
- Aug 5 – Aug 19
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Feb 15
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 5 – Apr 12
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 15
- Start indoors
- Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
March
The next window opens in March.
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 1 – Mar 29
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 1
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 1 – Mar 29
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 1
- Start indoors
- Mar 1 – Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 1
- Start indoors
- Mar 1 – Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 1
- Start indoors
- Mar 1 – Mar 15
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 15
- Start indoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 19
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 15
- Start indoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 19
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 15
- Start indoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 19 – Apr 26
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Mar 15
- Start indoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 19 – Apr 26
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 19 – Apr 26
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Mar 15
- Start indoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 22
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 19 – Apr 26
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
- Sow for fall
- Aug 5 – Aug 19
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Apr 12
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 15
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 15 – Mar 29
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 22
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 22 – Mar 22
- Sow for fall
- Aug 5 – Aug 19
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 22
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 22 – Mar 22
- Sow for fall
- Aug 5 – Aug 19
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 12
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 29
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 29 – Apr 5
April
The next window opens in April.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Apr 12
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 12 – Apr 12
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 19
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 19 – Apr 26
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 26
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 26 – Apr 26
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 16
- Sow for fall
- Sep 16 – Sep 16
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 Raleigh?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Raleigh is Mar 28. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Apr 12.
- When is the first frost in Raleigh?
- The typical first fall frost is Nov 8. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 28.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Raleigh?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Feb 15 and Mar 1, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Raleigh in?
- Raleigh is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 27609, 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
- Charlotte, NC 210 km
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