Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Wilmington, North Carolina

Typical last spring frost March 19 (1 spring in 10 later than April 4). Typical first fall frost November 20 (1 fall in 10 earlier than November 5). Growing season about 247 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until February 26 and fades out by April 4. It is unlikely from then until November 5, and likely again after December 6. The dashed lines are the typical dates, March 19 and November 20.

We don't give a garlic date here. The rule we use, from the University of Minnesota Extension, counts from the first killing frost, and it works where a hard freeze comes every year before the ground freezes. Your county's extension office can tell you when to plant garlic in your climate.

January

  • January 1 to 29: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)
  • January 15 to February 12: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)
  • January 29 to February 19: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)

February

  • February 5 to 19: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
  • February 12 to 26: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)
  • February 19 to March 5: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • February 19 to March 5: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)

March

  • March 5 to 19: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • March 5 to 19: Cauliflower (plant out)
  • March 19: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)

April

  • April 2: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • April 2: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

May

Nothing to start this month.

June

  • June 25 to July 9: Cabbage for fall (start seeds)

July

  • July 15 to 29: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)

August

  • August 24: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 28: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 29: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 2: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 3: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 7: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 17: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 27: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)

October

  • October 7: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

November

  • November 5: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

December

Nothing to start this month.

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Wilmington International Airport (station USW00013748), 4 miles from the center of Wilmington. 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/wilmington/

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