Holly Springs, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Holly Springs is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 27 and the first fall frost around November 8, giving about 227 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- March 27
- Typical first frost
- November 8
- Frost-free season
- 227 days
Frost dates in Holly Springs
Last spring frost
- March 8Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 27Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 8Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 24Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 227 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 15 and returns around November 21.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Apex, 8.6 miles N of the city center and 100 feet higher. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Holly Springs shares this station with Apex, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Holly Springs
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, tomatoes, 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, 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: 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
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: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Holly Springs
Holly Springs's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 27 in 27540 to March 31 in 27539. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27539 | 8a | Raleigh Durham International Airport, 9.6 mi SE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 27540 | 8a | Apex, 8.6 mi N | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
Apex also supplies the frost dates for Apex, so their planting calendars match Holly Springs's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Holly Springs
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 26 to Aug 2 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 9 to Sep 13 |
| Cilantro | Feb 13 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | — |
| Basil | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 15 to 22 | Jul 19 to 26 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 13 to 27 | Nov 8 to 22 |
| Onions | Dec 5 to Jan 16 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 30 to Feb 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 19 to Aug 16 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 6 to 27 | Aug 16 to Sep 6 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 6 to 13 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 16 to 23 |
| Zucchini | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 16 to 30 |
| Broccoli | Jan 9 to 30 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 23 to Sep 20 |
| Peas | — | Feb 13 to 27 | Aug 16 to 30 |
| Spinach | Feb 13 to 20 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 30 to Oct 4 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 27 to Apr 17 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 27 to May 4 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 27 to Nov 22 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 27 to Nov 8 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 13 to 27 | Sep 27 to Oct 11 |
Nearby cities
- Apex, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Cary, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Raleigh, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Chapel Hill, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Durham, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Wake Forest, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Holly Springs
Questions
When is the last frost in Holly Springs?
Around March 27 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Apex. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 10.
What planting zone is Holly Springs 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 Holly Springs?
Start seeds indoors February 20 to March 6 and set plants out April 17 to May 1.
When is the first frost in Holly Springs?
Around November 8 in a typical year, and before October 26 about 1 year in 10.