Wilmington, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Wilmington is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 19 and the first fall frost around November 20, giving about 247 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- March 19
- Typical first frost
- November 20
- Frost-free season
- 247 days
Frost dates in Wilmington
Last spring frost
- February 26Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 19Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 4Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 5Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 20Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 6Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 247 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 2 and returns around December 3.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Wilmington International Airport, 3.9 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 Wilmington
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: 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, 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, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, 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, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, 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, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Wilmington
All 5 of Wilmington's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Wilmington International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28401 | 8b | Wilmington International Airport, 3.9 mi NE | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| 28403 | 8b | Wilmington International Airport, 3.9 mi NE | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| 28405 | 8b | Wilmington International Airport, 3.9 mi NE | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| 28409 | 8b | Wilmington International Airport, 3.9 mi NE | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| 28412 | 8b | Wilmington International Airport, 3.9 mi NE | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Wilmington
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 6 to 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 7 to 14 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 5 to 19 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Cilantro | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 19 to 26 | — |
| Basil | Feb 13 to 27 | Apr 3 to 10 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 26 to Mar 5 | Jul 31 to Aug 7 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 5 to 19 | Nov 20 to Dec 4 |
| Onions | Nov 27 to Jan 8 | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 21 to Sep 4 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 16 to Feb 13 | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 26 to Mar 19 | Aug 28 to Sep 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 14 to 28 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 28 to Sep 4 |
| Zucchini | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Broccoli | Jan 1 to 22 | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Sep 4 to Oct 2 |
| Peas | — | Feb 5 to 19 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Spinach | Feb 5 to 12 | Mar 12 to 26 | Sep 11 to Oct 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 19 to Apr 9 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 14 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 9 to Dec 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 9 to Nov 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 5 to 19 | Oct 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Jacksonville, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 23
- Fayetteville, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Greenville, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Holly Springs, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Apex, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Raleigh, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Wilmington
Questions
When is the last frost in Wilmington?
Around March 19 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Wilmington International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 4.
What planting zone is Wilmington in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Wilmington?
Start seeds indoors February 6 to 20 and set plants out April 3 to 17; the safest date to plant out is after April 4.
When is the first frost in Wilmington?
Around November 20 in a typical year, and before November 5 about 1 year in 10.