Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Raleigh, North Carolina

Typical last spring frost March 31 (1 spring in 10 later than April 16). Typical first fall frost November 4 (1 fall in 10 earlier than October 23). Growing season about 219 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until March 15 and fades out by April 16. It is unlikely from then until October 23, and likely again after November 17. The dashed lines are the typical dates, March 31 and November 4.

January

  • January 13 to February 10: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)
  • January 27 to February 24: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)

February

  • February 10 to March 3: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)
  • February 17 to March 3: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
  • February 24 to March 10: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)

March

  • March 3 to 17: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • March 3 to 17: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)
  • March 17 to 31: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • March 17 to 31: Cauliflower (plant out)
  • March 31: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)

April

  • April 14: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • April 14: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

May

Nothing to start this month.

June

  • June 9 to 23: Cabbage for fall (start seeds)
  • June 29 to July 13: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)

July

Nothing to start this month.

August

  • August 8: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 12: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 13: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 17: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 18: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 22: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 1: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 11: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 21: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

October

  • October 23: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

November

  • November 23 to 30: Garlic (plant cloves)

December

Nothing to start this month.

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Raleigh Durham International Airport (station USW00013722), 9 miles from the center of Raleigh. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/north-carolina/raleigh/

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