North Carolina Planting Calendar

Frost dates, growing zones, and planting dates for North Carolina gardeners.

Zone 5b Zone 6a Zone 6b Zone 7a Zone 7b Zone 8a

The Short Answer

North Carolina spans USDA zones 5b through 8a, which means planting dates vary significantly across the state. Mountains has an average last frost around Apr 25 - May 15, while Coastal Plain sees its last frost around Mar 15 - Apr 1. Use our homepage tool with your zip code for dates specific to your exact location.

North Carolina Frost Dates by Region

Three distinct growing regions. Long season on coast. Mountains have shorter seasons but cooler summers ideal for cool-season crops.

Region Zones Last Frost (Spring) First Frost (Fall)
Mountains 5b, 6a, 6b Apr 25 - May 15 Sep 25 - Oct 10
Piedmont 7a, 7b Apr 1 - Apr 15 Oct 20 - Nov 5
Coastal Plain 7b, 8a Mar 15 - Apr 1 Nov 1 - Nov 15

Soil & Growing Conditions

Red clay in Piedmont. Sandy soils on coast. Acidic statewide. Mountain soils thin and rocky.

What to Plant in North Carolina

North Carolina's long season gives you two planting windows and room for crops that colder states can't grow. The key is timing around your summer heat peak:

Heat Lovers (North Carolina's Advantage)

OkraSweet PotatoesWatermelonEggplantPeppers

Spring & Fall Crops

TomatoesCucumbersBeans (Green/Snap)Squash (Summer)Corn (Sweet)BasilGarlicLettuceBroccoliCarrotsKalePeas

Flowers & Perennials

SunflowersZinniasLavenderMarigoldsDaylilies

Browse all 100 plants — or enter your zip code for personalized planting dates.

Neighboring States

Gardeners near state borders may find useful information in neighboring state guides:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Note: Frost dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages. Actual frost dates can vary significantly year to year. Zone data is from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026

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