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Frost dates and planting calendar for Asheville, North Carolina

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
7b[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 6[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 31[3]
Growing season, median
205 days[4]

The USDA map puts the center of Asheville in zone 7b[1]. The median last spring frost at the Asheville weather station is April 6, which means a last frost after that date in half of years[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 20, half of years Apr 6, 1 in 10 years after Apr 24Last frostmedian Apr 6First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 13, half of years Oct 31, 1 in 10 years before Oct 17First frostmedian Oct 31Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 9 to Mar 23Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 6around Apr 6Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 20from Apr 20
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Asheville weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. For the last spring frost, 9 of 10 years see it come after March 20, and 1 of 10 years sees it after April 24[2]. For the first fall frost, 1 of 10 years sees it before October 17, and half of years see it before October 31[3]. These are odds from past years and not a forecast, so any year can come earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 20 after April 6 after April 24
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 17 before October 31 before November 13
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 26, median first fall date November 10[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 185 days in 9 of 10 years, 205 days in half of years and 226 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Asheville (USW00013872), 1.7 miles from the city center, 2,238 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so GardenFacts applies its rules to Asheville's median last frost of April 6[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that date, which is March 9 to March 23[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots, beets and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before, which is March 23[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be started from seed around April 6[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so April 20 is the earliest start[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 6) is March 9 to March 23[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 6) is March 23, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 6[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 6), is April 20[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 13 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 9 Jun 2 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 9 Apr 28
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 8
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 9 Jun 27
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 13
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 9 Apr 8
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 9 Apr 18
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 9 Apr 28
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 23 May 22
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 23 Jun 1
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 23 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 23 Jun 1
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 23 Jul 26
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 23 May 22
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 5
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 5
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 6 May 31
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 6 May 26
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 20 Jul 14
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 20 Jun 19 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 20 Jun 29 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 20 Jun 24 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 20 Jul 29
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 20 Jul 14
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 7b means an average yearly coldest night of 5°F to 10°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone comes from the coldest winter night and not from summer heat or frost dates[14]. Asheville overlaps 8 ZIP code areas[15]. By land area, 97% of the city lies in zone 7b areas and 3% lies in zone 7a areas[15].

Zone 7b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 5°F to 10°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 6.5°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 7b 97%, zone 7a 3%[15].

All towns in zone 7b and what zone 7b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
28806[15] 7b 5 to 10°F
28803[15] 7b 5 to 10°F
28805[15] 7b 5 to 10°F
28804[15] 7b 5 to 10°F
28801[15] 7b 5 to 10°F
28704[15] 7b 5 to 10°F
28715[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
28732[15] 7b 5 to 10°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Asheville, North Carolina?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Asheville in zone 7b[1]. By land area, 97% of the city is in zone 7b ZIP code areas and 3% is in zone 7a[15].
When is the last frost in Asheville?
The median last spring frost is April 6, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 24[2].
When is the first frost in Asheville?
The median first fall frost is October 31, so in half of years it comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 17[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Asheville?
CSU Extension typically puts tomatoes 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost, which gives April 20 as the earliest start here[11]. CSU wrote its guide for Colorado[11].
How long is the growing season in Asheville?
The growing season is at least 205 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 185 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Asheville, North Carolina in zone 7b. Zone 7b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 5°F to 10°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 6.5°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after March 20, in half of years after April 6, and in 1 of 10 years after April 24 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 6. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 17, in half of years before October 31, and in 9 of 10 years before November 13 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 31. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 185 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 205 days in half of years, and at least 226 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Asheville weather station (USW00013872), 1.7 miles from the center of Asheville at 2,238 feet, using 30 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is March 26 and the median first fall date is November 10. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Asheville, North Carolina overlaps 8 ZIP code areas. By land area, 97% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7b, 3% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.