Mooresville, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Mooresville is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 9 and the first fall frost around October 28, giving about 203 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- April 9
- Typical first frost
- October 28
- Frost-free season
- 203 days
Frost dates in Mooresville
Last spring frost
- March 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 9Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 24Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 28Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 8Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 203 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 28 and returns around November 6.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Salisbury 9 Wnw, 12 miles NE 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 Mooresville
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, 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, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, 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, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, 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
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, 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
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, 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, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Mooresville
Mooresville's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 9 in 28115 to April 16 in 28117. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Mooresville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 12 to 26 | Apr 2 to 16 | Jul 29 to Sep 2 |
| Cilantro | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 9 to 16 | — |
| Basil | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Oct 28 to Nov 11 |
| Onions | Dec 18 to Jan 29 | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 4 to Mar 4 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 19 to Apr 9 | Aug 5 to 26 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 10 to 17 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 9 to 23 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 22 to Feb 12 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 12 to Sep 9 |
| Peas | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Aug 5 to 19 |
| Spinach | Feb 26 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 16 | Aug 19 to Sep 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 9 to 30 | — |
| Zinnias | May 1 to 8 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 16 to Nov 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 16 to Oct 28 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Sep 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- Kannapolis, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Huntersville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Concord, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Charlotte, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- 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 Mooresville
Questions
When is the last frost in Mooresville?
Around April 9 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Salisbury 9 Wnw. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 24.
What planting zone is Mooresville 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 Mooresville?
Start seeds indoors February 25 to March 11 and set plants out April 22 to May 6; the safest date to plant out is after April 24.
When is the first frost in Mooresville?
Around October 28 in a typical year, and before October 15 about 1 year in 10.