Rocky Mount, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Rocky Mount is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 1 and the first fall frost around November 5, giving about 219 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- April 1
- Typical first frost
- November 5
- Frost-free season
- 219 days
Frost dates in Rocky Mount
Last spring frost
- March 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 25Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 5Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 19Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 219 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 21 and returns around November 16.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rocky Mt Wilson Airport, 9.7 miles SSW 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 Rocky Mount
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, 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, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, perennial ryegrass, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, 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: 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 Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 3 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 30 in 27809 to April 1 in 27804. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Rocky Mount
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 16 to 30 | Jul 23 to 30 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 4 to 18 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Cilantro | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 13 to 20 | Jul 16 to 23 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Nov 5 to 19 |
| Onions | Dec 10 to Jan 21 | Mar 4 to 18 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 to 30 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 to 30 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 29 to Feb 26 | Apr 16 to 30 | Jul 16 to Aug 13 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 11 to Apr 1 | Aug 13 to Sep 3 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 16 to 30 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 1 to 15 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 16 to 30 | Aug 13 to 20 |
| Zucchini | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 to 30 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Broccoli | Jan 14 to Feb 4 | Mar 4 to 18 | Aug 20 to Sep 17 |
| Peas | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Spinach | Feb 18 to 25 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 27 to Oct 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 26 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 24 to Nov 19 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 24 to Nov 5 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Sep 24 to Oct 8 |
Nearby cities
- Greenville, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Wake Forest, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Raleigh, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Cary, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Durham, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Holly Springs, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Rocky Mount
Questions
When is the last frost in Rocky Mount?
Around April 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Rocky Mt Wilson Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 16.
What planting zone is Rocky Mount 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 Rocky Mount?
Start seeds indoors February 19 to March 5 and set plants out April 16 to 30.
When is the first frost in Rocky Mount?
Around November 5 in a typical year, and before October 25 about 1 year in 10.