Free planting calendar
North Carolina planting calendar for 2026.
In North Carolina, the typical last spring frost is around April 3 and the first fall frost is around November 3, giving about 214 frost-free days. The state spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8b. Here is what to sow each month, plus how to dial it to your exact ZIP code.
North Carolina at a glance
| Typical last spring frost | April 3 |
| Typical first fall frost | November 3 |
| Growing season | about 214 days |
| USDA hardiness zones | 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b |
| Population centers | Elizabeth City, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham |
Typical statewide averages from NOAA frost normals. Your town can differ by a week or two, so check your ZIP code for exact dates.
What to plant in North Carolina, month by month
Sow windows below are counted from North Carolina’s typical frost dates. Tender crops wait until after the last frost; hardy crops can start earlier.
| Month | What to sow |
|---|---|
| January | Onion, bulb · Parsnip · Leek · Celeriac · Onion |
| February | Snap Pea · Potato · Cilantro · Parsley · Lettuce, leaf · Lettuce, romaine · Lettuce, head · Spinach · Arugula · Kale · Collards · Mustard Greens · Cabbage · Broccoli · Cauliflower · Kohlrabi · Carrot · Beet · Radish · Turnip · Onion, bulb · Onion, bunching · Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · English Shelling Pea · Napa Cabbage · Bok Choy · Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) · Tatsoi · Mizuna · Daikon Radish · Endive · Escarole · Sorrel · Watercress · Parsnip · Leek · Shallot · Salsify · Celeriac · Fennel, Florence · Lettuce · Onion · Mache (Corn Salad) · Cress, garden |
| March | Snap Pea · Potato · Cilantro · Parsley · Lettuce, leaf · Lettuce, romaine · Lettuce, head · Spinach · Arugula · Kale · Swiss Chard · Collards · Mustard Greens · Cabbage · Broccoli · Cauliflower · Kohlrabi · Carrot · Beet · Radish · Turnip · Onion, bulb · Onion, bunching · Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · English Shelling Pea · Garbanzo Bean (Chickpea) · Napa Cabbage · Bok Choy · Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) · Tatsoi · Mizuna · Daikon Radish · Endive · Escarole · Sorrel · Watercress · Celery · Shallot · Salsify · Fennel, Florence · Strawberry, day-neutral · Dill · Oregano · Thyme · Chives · Chervil · Blueberry · Raspberry, red · Blackberry · Strawberry, June-bearing · Gooseberry · Currant, black · Haskap (Honeyberry) · Elderberry · Asparagus · Rhubarb · Horseradish · Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) · Artichoke, globe · Lettuce · Onion · Calendula (Pot Marigold) · Chamomile, German · Mache (Corn Salad) · Cress, garden · Currant, red |
| April | Tomato, slicing · Tomato, cherry · Tomato, paste · Pepper, bell · Pepper, hot · Eggplant · Cucumber, slicing · Cucumber, pickling · Squash, summer · Watermelon · Cantaloupe · Okra · Sweet Corn · Bush Bean · Pole Bean · Basil · Cilantro · Parsley · Lettuce, leaf · Arugula · Swiss Chard · Radish · Onion, bunching · Lima Bean (Bush) · Edamame (Soybean) · Southern Pea (Black-Eyed Pea) · Garbanzo Bean (Chickpea) · Amaranth Leaf · New Zealand Spinach · Celery · Tomatillo · Ground Cherry · Honeydew Melon · Spaghetti Squash · Acorn Squash · Luffa Gourd · Sunflower, confection · Strawberry, day-neutral · Pepper, banana · Pepper, poblano · Pepper, serrano · Pepper, cayenne · Pepper, shishito · Pepper, habanero · Dill · Oregano · Thyme · Rosemary · Sage · Mint · Chives · Tarragon · Marjoram · Chervil · Lemon Balm · Summer Savory · Blueberry · Raspberry, red · Blackberry · Strawberry, June-bearing · Gooseberry · Currant, black · Haskap (Honeyberry) · Elderberry · Asparagus · Rhubarb · Horseradish · Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) · Artichoke, globe · Peanut · Lavender · Lemongrass · Bay Laurel · Borage · Stevia · Catmint (Catnip) · Shiso (Perilla) · Scarlet Runner Bean · Popcorn · Cucamelon (Mouse Melon) · Malabar Spinach · Tomato · Pepper, sweet · Cucumber · Bean · Lettuce · Nasturtium · Calendula (Pot Marigold) · Chamomile, German · Cress, garden · Currant, red |
| May | Tomato, slicing · Tomato, cherry · Tomato, paste · Pepper, bell · Pepper, hot · Eggplant · Cucumber, slicing · Cucumber, pickling · Squash, summer · Squash, winter · Pumpkin · Watermelon · Cantaloupe · Okra · Sweet Corn · Bush Bean · Pole Bean · Sweet Potato · Basil · Lima Bean (Bush) · Edamame (Soybean) · Southern Pea (Black-Eyed Pea) · Tomatillo · Ground Cherry · Honeydew Melon · Spaghetti Squash · Acorn Squash · Luffa Gourd · Sunflower, confection · Pepper, banana · Pepper, poblano · Pepper, serrano · Pepper, cayenne · Pepper, shishito · Pepper, habanero · Dill · Oregano · Thyme · Rosemary · Sage · Mint · Chives · Tarragon · Marjoram · Lemon Balm · Summer Savory · Blueberry · Elderberry · Horseradish · Ginger · Turmeric · Peanut · Lavender · Lemongrass · Bay Laurel · Borage · Stevia · Catmint (Catnip) · Shiso (Perilla) · Scarlet Runner Bean · Popcorn · Cucamelon (Mouse Melon) · Malabar Spinach · Tomato · Pepper, sweet · Cucumber · Bean · Nasturtium · Chamomile, German |
| June | Tomato, slicing · Tomato, cherry · Tomato, paste · Pepper, bell · Pepper, hot · Eggplant · Cucumber, slicing · Cucumber, pickling · Squash, summer · Squash, winter · Pumpkin · Watermelon · Cantaloupe · Okra · Sweet Corn · Pole Bean · Sweet Potato · Basil · Lima Bean (Bush) · Edamame (Soybean) · Southern Pea (Black-Eyed Pea) · Tomatillo · Ground Cherry · Honeydew Melon · Spaghetti Squash · Acorn Squash · Luffa Gourd · Sunflower, confection · Pepper, banana · Pepper, poblano · Pepper, serrano · Pepper, cayenne · Pepper, shishito · Pepper, habanero · Tarragon · Marjoram · Lemon Balm · Summer Savory · Ginger · Turmeric · Lemongrass · Bay Laurel · Borage · Catmint (Catnip) · Shiso (Perilla) · Scarlet Runner Bean · Popcorn · Cucamelon (Mouse Melon) · Malabar Spinach · Tomato · Pepper, sweet · Cucumber |
| July | Cucumber, slicing · Cucumber, pickling · Squash, summer · Pumpkin · Sweet Corn · Bush Bean · Basil · Collards · Cabbage · Broccoli · Cauliflower · Brussels Sprouts · Napa Cabbage · Radicchio · Celery · Parsnip · Leek · Salsify · Celeriac · Rutabaga · Cucumber · Bean |
| August | Cucumber, slicing · Squash, summer · Bush Bean · Cilantro · Parsley · Lettuce, leaf · Lettuce, romaine · Lettuce, head · Spinach · Arugula · Kale · Swiss Chard · Collards · Mustard Greens · Cabbage · Broccoli · Cauliflower · Kohlrabi · Carrot · Beet · Radish · Turnip · Onion, bunching · Lima Bean (Bush) · English Shelling Pea · Brussels Sprouts · Napa Cabbage · Bok Choy · Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) · Tatsoi · Mizuna · Daikon Radish · Endive · Escarole · Radicchio · Sorrel · Watercress · Celery · Parsnip · Leek · Salsify · Celeriac · Rutabaga · Fennel, Florence · Cucumber · Bean · Lettuce · Calendula (Pot Marigold) · Cress, garden |
| September | Cilantro · Parsley · Lettuce, leaf · Lettuce, romaine · Lettuce, head · Spinach · Arugula · Kale · Swiss Chard · Collards · Mustard Greens · Cabbage · Kohlrabi · Carrot · Beet · Radish · Turnip · Onion, bunching · Brussels Sprouts · Napa Cabbage · Bok Choy · Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) · Tatsoi · Mizuna · Daikon Radish · Endive · Escarole · Radicchio · Sorrel · Watercress · Leek · Celeriac · Rutabaga · Fennel, Florence · Dill · Chervil · Lettuce · Calendula (Pot Marigold) · Mache (Corn Salad) · Cress, garden |
| October | Cilantro · Lettuce, leaf · Lettuce, romaine · Lettuce, head · Spinach · Arugula · Radish · Garlic · Sorrel · Watercress · Shallot · Dill · Chervil · Lettuce · Calendula (Pot Marigold) · Mache (Corn Salad) · Cress, garden |
| November | Garlic · Shallot |
| December | Nothing sows outdoors — plan beds and order seeds. |
Plan your North Carolina garden
A calendar tells you when. A plan tells you how much. Start from what you want to eat and PlotToTable sizes the beds, counts the plants, and dates every sowing for your exact ZIP code.
- Planting calendar by ZIP code — exact frost dates for your town, not just the state average.
- How to plan a vegetable garden — the six-step method.
- Frost dates explained — why these two dates drive everything.
- What to plant now in zone 8 — this month’s full sow list.
North Carolina planting questions
When is the last frost in North Carolina?+
The typical last spring frost across North Carolina is around April 3, and the first fall frost is around November 3, giving roughly a 214-day growing season. Your exact dates depend on your local area and elevation, so enter your ZIP code in the planting calendar tool for numbers tuned to your spot.
What USDA hardiness zone is North Carolina in?+
North Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8b. Most of the state falls in zone 8. Colder and higher-elevation areas trend to the lower zone numbers; milder and coastal areas to the higher ones.
What can I plant right now in North Carolina?+
It depends on the month. Tender crops like tomatoes and peppers go out after the last frost (around April 3); hardy crops like peas, kale, and carrots can be sown weeks earlier. The month-by-month table on this page lists what to sow in North Carolina for each month of the year.
Is this planting calendar free?+
Yes. This North Carolina calendar and the ZIP-code planting tool are free with no account. If you want a full garden plan built around what you want to eat, with plant counts and spacing, PlotToTable's planner is free to start too.