Asheville, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Asheville is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 6 and the first fall frost around October 31, giving about 205 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 6
- Typical first frost
- October 31
- Frost-free season
- 205 days
Frost dates in Asheville
Last spring frost
- March 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 6Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 24Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 17Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 31Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 13Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 205 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 26 and returns around November 10.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Asheville, 0.4 miles SSW of the city center and 111 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 Asheville
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, 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, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Asheville
All 7 of Asheville's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Asheville, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 7a in 28715, and 7b in 28704, 28801, 28803, 28804, 28805, 28806.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28704 | 7b | Asheville, 0.4 mi SSW | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| 28715 | 7a | Asheville, 0.4 mi SSW | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| 28801 | 7b | Asheville, 0.4 mi SSW | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| 28803 | 7b | Asheville, 0.4 mi SSW | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| 28804 | 7b | Asheville, 0.4 mi SSW | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| 28805 | 7b | Asheville, 0.4 mi SSW | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| 28806 | 7b | Asheville, 0.4 mi SSW | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Asheville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 9 to 23 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Aug 1 to Sep 5 |
| Cilantro | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 6 to 13 | — |
| Basil | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 25 to May 2 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 23 to 30 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Oct 31 to Nov 14 |
| Onions | Dec 15 to Jan 26 | Mar 9 to 23 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 7 to Mar 7 | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 16 to Apr 6 | Aug 8 to 29 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 16 to 23 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 6 to 20 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 19 to Feb 9 | Mar 9 to 23 | Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Peas | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Spinach | Feb 23 to Mar 2 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Aug 22 to Sep 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 6 to 27 | — |
| Zinnias | May 10 to 17 | Jun 7 to 21 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 19 to Nov 14 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 19 to Oct 31 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
Nearby cities
- Greer, SC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Greenville, SC zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Johnson City, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 19
- Kingsport, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 9
- Gastonia, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Knoxville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 11
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Asheville
Questions
When is the last frost in Asheville?
Around April 6 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Asheville. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 24.
What planting zone is Asheville in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Asheville?
Start seeds indoors February 28 to March 14 and set plants out April 25 to May 9.
When is the first frost in Asheville?
Around October 31 in a typical year, and before October 17 about 1 year in 10.