High Point, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
High Point is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 30 and the first fall frost around November 5, giving about 220 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- March 30
- Typical first frost
- November 5
- Frost-free season
- 220 days
Frost dates in High Point
Last spring frost
- March 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 30Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 15Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 21Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 5Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 21Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 220 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 18 and returns around November 16.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for High Pt, 2.1 miles ENE 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 High Point
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, 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, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, perennial ryegrass, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
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, 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: 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: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in High Point
All 5 of High Point's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from High Pt, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
Planting dates for popular crops in High Point
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 13 to 27 | Apr 10 to 24 | Jul 23 to 30 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Cilantro | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Mar 30 to Apr 6 | — |
| Basil | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 10 to 17 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 9 to 16 | Jul 16 to 23 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Nov 5 to 19 |
| Onions | Dec 8 to Jan 19 | Mar 2 to 16 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 10 to 24 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 13 to 27 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 23 to Feb 20 | Apr 10 to 24 | Jul 16 to Aug 13 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 9 to 30 | Aug 13 to Sep 3 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 10 to 24 | Aug 13 to 20 |
| Zucchini | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 10 to 24 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Broccoli | Jan 12 to Feb 2 | Mar 2 to 16 | Aug 20 to Sep 17 |
| Peas | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Spinach | Feb 16 to 23 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 27 to Oct 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 30 to Apr 20 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 24 to May 1 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 24 to Nov 19 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 24 to Nov 5 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Sep 24 to Oct 8 |
Nearby cities
- Greensboro, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Winston-Salem, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Burlington, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Kannapolis, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Chapel Hill, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Mooresville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 9
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for High Point
Questions
When is the last frost in High Point?
Around March 30 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for High Pt. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 15.
What planting zone is High Point 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 High Point?
Start seeds indoors February 13 to 27 and set plants out April 10 to 24; the safest date to plant out is after April 15.
When is the first frost in High Point?
Around November 5 in a typical year, and before October 21 about 1 year in 10.