Wake Forest, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Wake Forest is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 28 and the first fall frost around November 8, giving about 229 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- March 28
- Typical first frost
- November 8
- Frost-free season
- 229 days
Frost dates in Wake Forest
Last spring frost
- March 8Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 28Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 12Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 28Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 8Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 27Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 229 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 14 and returns around November 23.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Raleigh State Univ, 3.6 miles WNW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Wake Forest shares this station with Raleigh, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Wake Forest
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, okra, zinnias
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
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
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
Planting dates for popular crops in Wake Forest
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 14 to 28 | Jul 26 to Aug 2 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 14 to 28 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 9 to Sep 13 |
| Cilantro | Feb 14 to 28 | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | — |
| Basil | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 12 to 19 | Jul 19 to 26 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 14 to 28 | Nov 8 to 22 |
| Onions | Dec 6 to Jan 17 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 27 to Feb 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | Jul 19 to Aug 16 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 7 to 28 | Aug 16 to Sep 6 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 16 to 23 |
| Zucchini | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 16 to 30 |
| Broccoli | Jan 10 to 31 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 23 to Sep 20 |
| Peas | — | Feb 14 to 28 | Aug 16 to 30 |
| Spinach | Feb 14 to 21 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 30 to Oct 4 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 28 to Apr 18 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 22 to 29 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 27 to Nov 22 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 27 to Nov 8 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 14 to 28 | Sep 27 to Oct 11 |
Nearby cities
- Raleigh, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Cary, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Durham, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Apex, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Holly Springs, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Chapel Hill, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Wake Forest
Questions
When is the last frost in Wake Forest?
Around March 28 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Raleigh State Univ. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 12.
What planting zone is Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest?
Start seeds indoors February 17 to March 3 and set plants out April 14 to 28.
When is the first frost in Wake Forest?
Around November 8 in a typical year, and before October 28 about 1 year in 10.