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Frost dates and planting calendar for Fayetteville, 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 10[3]
Growing season, median
227 days[4]

Fayetteville, North Carolina is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map[1]. The median last spring frost at the nearest NOAA station is March 30[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 9, half of years Mar 30, 1 in 10 years after Apr 16Last frostmedian Mar 30First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 29, half of years Nov 10, 1 in 10 years before Oct 28First frostmedian Nov 10Frost 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.

NOAA frost dates come from the Fayetteville (Pwc) weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after March 30, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 16[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before November 10, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 28[3]. These are chances from past records, not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later.

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 9 after March 30 after April 16
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 28 before November 10 before November 29
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 16, median first fall date November 23[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 204 days in 9 of 10 years, 227 days in half of years and 253 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: Fayetteville (Pwc) (USC00313017), 6.7 miles from the city center, 96 feet, 29 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its planting guide for Colorado, so treat these dates as a starting point[6]. CSU says hardy vegetables like broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the average last spring frost, which works out to March 2 to March 16 here[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables like carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before it, from March 16 up to the median date[9]. Tender vegetables like snap beans and sweet corn can be planted from seed around March 30[10]. Very tender vegetables like tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, so the earliest start is April 13[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 averages 10°F to 15°F, based on 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is about winter lows, not summer heat or frost dates[14]. Fayetteville overlaps more than one zone. By land area, 68% is in ZIP code areas rated 8a and 32% is in areas rated 8b[15].

Zone 8a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 10°F to 15°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 14.5°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8a 68%, zone 8b 32%[15].

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

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
28310[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28314[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28304[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
28303[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28301[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
28311[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28306[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
28307[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28390[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28312[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
28305[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
28308[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28348[15] 8b 15 to 20°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Fayetteville, NC?
The center of Fayetteville is in USDA zone 8a on the 2023 map[1]. About 32% of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated 8b[15].
When is the last frost in Fayetteville?
The median last spring frost is March 30, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 16[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Fayetteville?
CSU typically says to wait 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, which gives an earliest start of April 13[11]. CSU's guide was written for Colorado[11].
When is the first frost in Fayetteville?
The median first fall frost is November 10, so in half of years it comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 28[3].
How long is the growing season in Fayetteville?
The growing season is at least 227 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 204 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Fayetteville, 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 14.5°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 9, in half of years after March 30, and in 1 of 10 years after April 16 (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 28, in half of years before November 10, and in 9 of 10 years before November 29 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 10. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 204 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 227 days in half of years, and at least 253 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Fayetteville (Pwc) weather station (USC00313017), 6.7 miles from the center of Fayetteville at 96 feet, using 29 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 16 and the median first fall date is November 23. 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. Fayetteville, North Carolina overlaps 13 ZIP code areas. By land area, 68% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a, 32% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b. 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.