Chapel Hill, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Chapel Hill is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 31 and the first fall frost around November 3, giving about 218 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- March 31
- Typical first frost
- November 3
- Frost-free season
- 218 days
Frost dates in Chapel Hill
Last spring frost
- March 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 31Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 23Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 3Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 19Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 218 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 19 and returns around November 14.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chapel Hill 2 W, 4.3 miles SSW of the city center. 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 Chapel Hill
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, 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, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, 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, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
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
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
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
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, turnips, zucchini
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
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Chapel Hill
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Jul 21 to 28 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 4 to Sep 8 |
| Cilantro | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Mar 31 to Apr 7 | — |
| Basil | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 17 to 24 | Jul 14 to 21 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Nov 3 to 17 |
| Onions | Dec 9 to Jan 20 | Mar 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 31 to Feb 28 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Jul 14 to Aug 11 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 10 to 31 | Aug 11 to Sep 1 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 11 to 18 |
| Zucchini | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 11 to 25 |
| Broccoli | Jan 13 to Feb 3 | Mar 3 to 17 | Aug 18 to Sep 15 |
| Peas | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Aug 11 to 25 |
| Spinach | Feb 17 to 24 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 25 to Sep 29 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 31 to Apr 21 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 29 to May 6 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 22 to Nov 17 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 22 to Nov 3 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Sep 22 to Oct 6 |
Nearby cities
- Durham, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Cary, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Apex, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Holly Springs, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Raleigh, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Burlington, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Chapel Hill
Questions
When is the last frost in Chapel Hill?
Around March 31 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Chapel Hill 2 W. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 14.
What planting zone is Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill?
Start seeds indoors February 21 to March 7 and set plants out April 18 to May 2.
When is the first frost in Chapel Hill?
Around November 3 in a typical year, and before October 23 about 1 year in 10.