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Frost dates and planting calendar for Charlotte, North Carolina

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

USDA hardiness zone
8a[1]
Median last spring frost
Mar 30[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 3[3]
Growing season, median
221 days[4]

Charlotte, North Carolina sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a[1]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after March 30, the median date from NOAA records[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 12, half of years Mar 30, 1 in 10 years after Apr 14Last frostmedian Mar 30First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 17, half of years Nov 3, 1 in 10 years before Oct 22First frostmedian Nov 3Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 2 to Mar 16Mar 2 to Mar 16Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 30around Mar 30Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 13from Apr 13
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 frost dates are odds, not promises. They come from NOAA climate normals for the Charlotte Douglas Airport weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after March 12, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 14[2]. In fall, the first frost comes before October 22 in 1 of 10 years, and the median first frost is November 3[3]. In half of years the growing season between these frosts is at least 221 days[4].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 12 after March 30 after April 14
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 22 before November 3 before November 17
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 17, median first fall date November 14[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 201 days in 9 of 10 years, 221 days in half of years and 244 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: Charlotte Douglas Airport (USW00013881), 7.1 miles from the city center, 728 feet, 28 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

The planting groups come from Colorado State University Extension, whose guide was written for Colorado[6]. GardenFacts takes the NOAA median last frost, March 30, as the average last frost and counts from there[6]. Hardy crops like peas, lettuce and spinach can go in as early as March 2 to March 16[6]. Semi-hardy crops like beets, carrots and potatoes can start as early as March 16, up to the median date itself[9]. Tender crops like snap beans and sweet corn go in from seed around March 30[10], and very tender crops like tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after it, with April 13 as 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 (March 30) is March 2 to March 16[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 30) is March 16, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 30[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 30), is April 13[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 2 May 6 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 2 May 26 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 2 Apr 21
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 2 May 1
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 2 Jun 20
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 2 May 6
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 2 Apr 1
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 2 Apr 11
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 2 Apr 21
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 15
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 25
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 16 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 25
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 16 Jul 19
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 15
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 30 May 29
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 30 May 29
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 30 May 24
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 30 May 19
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 13 Jul 7
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 12 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 22 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 17 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 13 Jul 22
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 13 Jul 7
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 8a means the coldest night of the winter averaged 10°F to 15°F from 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is about winter cold, not summer heat or frost dates[14]. USDA describes the map as the standard gardeners use to judge which perennial plants are most likely to thrive[14]. All of Charlotte's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a[15].

Zone 8a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 10°F to 15°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 13.2°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 8a and what zone 8a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
28269[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28277[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28273[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28215[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28208[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28216[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28214[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28262[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28226[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28217[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28213[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28270[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28210[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28205[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28211[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28212[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28278[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28227[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28206[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28209[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28105[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28203[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28207[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28202[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28204[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28134[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28223[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28104[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28078[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28274[15] 8a 10 to 15°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Charlotte, North Carolina?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Charlotte in zone 8a[1]. By land area, 100% of the city lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a[15].
When is the last frost in Charlotte?
The median last spring frost is March 30[2]. In 1 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 14[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Charlotte?
Colorado State University Extension says very tender crops like tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[11]. For Charlotte, the earliest start is April 13[11].
When is the first frost in Charlotte?
The median first fall frost is November 3[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 22[3].
How long is the growing season in Charlotte?
In half of years the growing season is at least 221 days, and in 9 of 10 years it is at least 201 days[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Charlotte, North Carolina in zone 8a. Zone 8a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 10°F to 15°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 13.2°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 12, in half of years after March 30, and in 1 of 10 years after April 14 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 30. 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 22, in half of years before November 3, and in 9 of 10 years before November 17 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 3. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 201 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 221 days in half of years, and at least 244 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Charlotte Douglas Airport weather station (USW00013881), 7.1 miles from the center of Charlotte at 728 feet, using 28 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 17 and the median first fall date is November 14. 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. Charlotte, North Carolina overlaps 33 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a. 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.