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Apex, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates

Apex is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 27 and the first fall frost around November 8, giving about 227 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 8a
Typical last frost
March 27
Typical first frost
November 8
Frost-free season
227 days

Frost dates in Apex

Last spring frost

  • March 8Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • March 27Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • April 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • November 8Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 24Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 227 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 15 and returns around November 21.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Apex, 4.2 miles ENE of the city center and 193 feet higher. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.

What to plant each month in Apex

  1. January

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons

  2. February

    Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  3. March

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips

  4. April

    Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  5. May

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  7. July

    Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes, tomatoes

  8. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, zucchini

  9. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  12. December

    Start indoors: onions

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Apex

Apex's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 3 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 27 in 27502 to April 10 in 27562. Every one of them is in zone 8a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
275028aApex, 4.2 mi ENEMar 27Nov 8
275238aRaleigh Durham International Airport, 9.6 mi SEMar 31Nov 4
275398aRaleigh Durham International Airport, 9.6 mi SEMar 31Nov 4
275628aSanford 8 Ne, 8.4 mi SSWApr 10Oct 30

Apex also supplies the frost dates for Holly Springs, so their planting calendars match Apex's.

Planting dates for popular crops in Apex

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 17 to May 1Jul 26 to Aug 2
Strawberries—Feb 13 to 27—
LettuceJan 30 to Feb 13Mar 20 to Apr 3Aug 9 to Sep 13
CilantroFeb 13 to 27Mar 27 to Apr 3—
BasilFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to 24—
Potatoes—Mar 15 to 22Jul 19 to 26
Garlic—Feb 13 to 27Nov 8 to 22
OnionsDec 5 to Jan 16Feb 27 to Mar 13—
CucumbersMar 20 to Apr 3Apr 17 to May 1Aug 9 to 23
PumpkinsMar 20 to Apr 3Apr 17 to May 1—
PeppersJan 30 to Feb 27Apr 17 to May 1Jul 19 to Aug 16
Carrots—Mar 6 to 27Aug 16 to Sep 6
Sweet Potatoes—May 6 to 13—
WatermelonsMar 13 to 27Apr 17 to May 1—
Sweet Corn—Mar 27 to Apr 10Aug 2 to 16
Green Beans—Apr 17 to May 1Aug 16 to 23
ZucchiniMar 20 to Apr 3Apr 17 to May 1Aug 16 to 30
BroccoliJan 9 to 30Feb 27 to Mar 13Aug 23 to Sep 20
Peas—Feb 13 to 27Aug 16 to 30
SpinachFeb 13 to 20Mar 20 to Apr 3Aug 30 to Oct 4
Sunflowers—Mar 27 to Apr 17—
ZinniasApr 27 to May 4May 25 to Jun 8—
Tulips——Sep 27 to Nov 22
Daffodils——Sep 27 to Nov 8
Grass Seed—Feb 13 to 27Sep 27 to Oct 11

Nearby cities

Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Apex

Questions

When is the last frost in Apex?

Around March 27 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Apex. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 10.

What planting zone is Apex in?

USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Apex?

Start seeds indoors February 20 to March 6 and set plants out April 17 to May 1.

When is the first frost in Apex?

Around November 8 in a typical year, and before October 26 about 1 year in 10.