Gastonia, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Gastonia is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 24 and the first fall frost around November 9, giving about 230 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- March 24
- Typical first frost
- November 9
- Frost-free season
- 230 days
Frost dates in Gastonia
Last spring frost
- March 4Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 27Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 9Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 26Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 230 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 11 and returns around November 22.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Gastonia Muni Airport, 4.8 miles ESE 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 Gastonia
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
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
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, 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, ginger, 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
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, 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
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
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: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Gastonia
Gastonia's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 4 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 24 in 28052 to April 12 in 28086. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Gastonia
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | Jul 27 to Aug 3 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 10 to 24 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 10 to Sep 14 |
| Cilantro | Feb 10 to 24 | Mar 24 to 31 | — |
| Basil | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 8 to 15 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 3 to 10 | Jul 20 to 27 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 10 to 24 | Nov 9 to 23 |
| Onions | Dec 2 to Jan 13 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 10 to 24 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 21 to Feb 18 | Apr 8 to 22 | Jul 20 to Aug 17 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 3 to 24 | Aug 17 to Sep 7 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 8 to 22 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 17 to 24 |
| Zucchini | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 17 to 31 |
| Broccoli | Jan 6 to 27 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Aug 24 to Sep 21 |
| Peas | — | Feb 10 to 24 | Aug 17 to 31 |
| Spinach | Feb 10 to 17 | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 31 to Oct 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 24 to Apr 14 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 20 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 28 to Nov 23 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 28 to Nov 9 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 10 to 24 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
Nearby cities
- Charlotte, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Huntersville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Rock Hill, SC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Mooresville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 9
- Concord, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Kannapolis, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Gastonia
Questions
When is the last frost in Gastonia?
Around March 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Gastonia Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 10.
What planting zone is Gastonia 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 Gastonia?
Start seeds indoors February 11 to 25 and set plants out April 8 to 22; the safest date to plant out is after April 10.
When is the first frost in Gastonia?
Around November 9 in a typical year, and before October 27 about 1 year in 10.