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Frost dates and planting calendar for Jacksonville, North Carolina

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

USDA hardiness zone
8b[1]
Median last spring frost
Mar 23[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 16[3]
Growing season, median
240 days[4]

Jacksonville, North Carolina sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b at the city center[1]. The median last spring frost is March 23, based on NOAA records from 1991 to 2020[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 2, half of years Mar 23, 1 in 10 years after Apr 7Last frostmedian Mar 23First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Dec 7, half of years Nov 16, 1 in 10 years before Nov 1First frostmedian Nov 16Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Feb 23 to Mar 9Feb 23 to Mar 9Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 9 to Mar 23TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 23around Mar 23Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 6from Apr 6
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 for Jacksonville come from the New River Mcaf weather station[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after March 23, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 7[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before November 16, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before November 1[3]. These are odds from 25 years of records, not a forecast, so any year can be 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 2 after March 23 after April 7
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 1 before November 16 before December 7
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 8, median first fall date December 1[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 216 days in 9 of 10 years, 240 days in half of years and 268 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: New River Mcaf (USW00093727), 2.1 miles from the city center, 26 feet, 25 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension groups vegetables by how much cold they handle. Their guide was written for Colorado[6]. Using the NOAA median last frost of March 23, hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as February 23 to March 9[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as beets, carrots and potatoes can go in as early as March 9, up to the median date itself[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be planted from seed around March 23[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically start 2 or more weeks after the last frost, which makes April 6 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 23) is February 23 to March 9[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 23) is March 9, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 23[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 23), is April 6[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 29 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Feb 23 May 19 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 14
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 24
Onions (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Jun 13
Peas (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 29
Radishes (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Mar 25
Spinach (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 4
Turnips (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 14
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 8
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 18
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 18
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 Jul 12
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 8
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 23 May 22
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 23 May 22
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 23 May 17
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 23 May 12
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 30
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 5 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 15 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 10 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jul 15
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 30
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

The USDA 2023 map puts the center of Jacksonville in zone 8b, which means an average coldest night of 15°F to 20°F[1]. The zone is based on winter lows, not on frost dates or summer heat[14]. The city is not all one zone. By land area, 55% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a and 45% in areas rated zone 8b[15].

Zone 8b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 15°F to 20°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 15.7°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8a 55%, zone 8b 45%[15].

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

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
28540[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28547[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
28546[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
28543[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
28542[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
28544[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
28539[15] 8b 15 to 20°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Jacksonville, NC?
The center of Jacksonville is in USDA zone 8b[1]. About 55% of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated 8a and 45% in areas rated 8b[15].
When is the last frost in Jacksonville, NC?
The median last spring frost is March 23, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 7[2].
When is the first frost in Jacksonville, NC?
The median first fall frost is November 16[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 1[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Jacksonville, NC?
CSU Extension lists tomatoes as very tender, typically planted 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[11]. Using the median last frost, the earliest start is April 6[11].
How long is the growing season in Jacksonville, NC?
The growing season is at least 240 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 216 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Jacksonville, North Carolina in zone 8b. Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 15°F to 20°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 15.7°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 2, in half of years after March 23, and in 1 of 10 years after April 7 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 23. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 1, in half of years before November 16, and in 9 of 10 years before December 7 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 16. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 216 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 240 days in half of years, and at least 268 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the New River Mcaf weather station (USW00093727), 2.1 miles from the center of Jacksonville at 26 feet, using 25 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 8 and the median first fall date is December 1. 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. Jacksonville, North Carolina overlaps 7 ZIP code areas. By land area, 55% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a, 45% 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.