Jacksonville, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Jacksonville is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 23 and the first fall frost around November 16, giving about 240 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 23
- Typical first frost
- November 16
- Frost-free season
- 240 days
Frost dates in Jacksonville
Last spring frost
- March 2Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 7Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 16Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 7Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 240 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 8 and returns around December 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for New River Mcaf, 7.3 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 Jacksonville
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, 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: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, 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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, 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 Jacksonville
Jacksonville's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 23 in 28540 to March 31 in 28546. The hardiness zone is 8a in 28540, 28546, and 8b in 28542, 28543, 28547.
Planting dates for popular crops in Jacksonville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 9 to 23 | Apr 6 to 20 | Aug 3 to 10 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 9 to 23 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 17 to Sep 21 |
| Cilantro | Feb 9 to 23 | Mar 23 to 30 | — |
| Basil | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Apr 6 to 13 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 2 to 9 | Jul 27 to Aug 3 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Nov 16 to 30 |
| Onions | Dec 1 to Jan 12 | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 6 to 20 | Aug 17 to 31 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 6 to 20 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 19 to Feb 16 | Apr 6 to 20 | Jul 27 to Aug 24 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 2 to 23 | Aug 24 to Sep 14 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 2 to 16 | Apr 6 to 20 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 10 to 24 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 6 to 20 | Aug 24 to 31 |
| Zucchini | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 6 to 20 | Aug 24 to Sep 7 |
| Broccoli | Jan 5 to 26 | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Aug 31 to Sep 28 |
| Peas | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Aug 24 to Sep 7 |
| Spinach | Feb 9 to 16 | Mar 16 to 30 | Sep 7 to Oct 12 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 23 to Apr 13 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 16 to 23 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 5 to Nov 30 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 5 to Nov 16 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Oct 5 to 19 |
Nearby cities
- Wilmington, NC zone 8b, last frost Mar 19
- Greenville, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Rocky Mount, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Fayetteville, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Raleigh, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Holly Springs, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Jacksonville
Questions
When is the last frost in Jacksonville?
Around March 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for New River Mcaf. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 7.
What planting zone is Jacksonville in?
USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Jacksonville?
Start seeds indoors February 9 to 23 and set plants out April 6 to 20; the safest date to plant out is after April 7.
When is the first frost in Jacksonville?
Around November 16 in a typical year, and before November 1 about 1 year in 10.