Concord, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Concord is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 1 and the first fall frost around November 2, giving about 215 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- April 1
- Typical first frost
- November 2
- Frost-free season
- 215 days
Frost dates in Concord
Last spring frost
- March 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 21Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 2Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 15Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 215 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 20 and returns around November 13.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Concord, 0.3 miles NW 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 Concord
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, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, perennial ryegrass, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias
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
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
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, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
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, 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 Concord
All 2 of Concord's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Concord, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28025 | 8a | Concord, 0.3 mi NW | Apr 1 | Nov 2 |
| 28027 | 8a | Concord, 0.3 mi NW | Apr 1 | Nov 2 |
Concord also supplies the frost dates for Huntersville and Kannapolis, so their planting calendars match Concord's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Concord
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 14 to 28 | Jul 20 to 27 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 4 to 18 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 3 to Sep 7 |
| Cilantro | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 12 to 19 | Jul 13 to 20 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Nov 2 to 16 |
| Onions | Dec 10 to Jan 21 | Mar 4 to 18 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 27 to Feb 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | Jul 13 to Aug 10 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 11 to Apr 1 | Aug 10 to 31 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 1 to 15 | Jul 27 to Aug 10 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 10 to 17 |
| Zucchini | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 10 to 24 |
| Broccoli | Jan 14 to Feb 4 | Mar 4 to 18 | Aug 17 to Sep 14 |
| Peas | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Aug 10 to 24 |
| Spinach | Feb 18 to 25 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 24 to Sep 28 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 23 to 30 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 21 to Nov 16 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 21 to Nov 2 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
Nearby cities
- Kannapolis, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Huntersville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Charlotte, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Mooresville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 9
- Gastonia, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Rock Hill, SC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Concord
Questions
When is the last frost in Concord?
Around April 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Concord. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 16.
What planting zone is Concord 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 Concord?
Start seeds indoors February 17 to March 3 and set plants out April 14 to 28; the safest date to plant out is after April 16.
When is the first frost in Concord?
Around November 2 in a typical year, and before October 21 about 1 year in 10.