Winston-Salem, North Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Winston-Salem is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 30 and the first fall frost around November 5, giving about 220 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 30
- Typical first frost
- November 5
- Frost-free season
- 220 days
Frost dates in Winston-Salem
Last spring frost
- March 12Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 30Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 14Safe: 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 21Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 220 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 18 and returns around November 17.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Piedmont Triad International Airport, 8.6 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. Winston-Salem shares this station with Greensboro, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Winston-Salem
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, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
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
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, 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, 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 Winston-Salem
All 8 of Winston-Salem's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Piedmont Triad International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 7b in 27040, 27103, 27106, 27127, and 8a in 27101, 27104, 27105, 27107.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27040 | 7b | Piedmont Triad International Airport, 8.6 mi WNW | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
| 27101 | 8a | Piedmont Triad International Airport, 8.6 mi WNW | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
| 27103 | 7b | Piedmont Triad International Airport, 8.6 mi WNW | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
| 27104 | 8a | Piedmont Triad International Airport, 8.6 mi WNW | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
| 27105 | 8a | Piedmont Triad International Airport, 8.6 mi WNW | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
| 27106 | 7b | Piedmont Triad International Airport, 8.6 mi WNW | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
| 27107 | 8a | Piedmont Triad International Airport, 8.6 mi WNW | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
| 27127 | 7b | Piedmont Triad International Airport, 8.6 mi WNW | Mar 30 | Nov 5 |
Piedmont Triad International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Greensboro, so their planting calendars match Winston-Salem's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Winston-Salem
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 23 to 30 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Cilantro | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Mar 30 to Apr 6 | — |
| Basil | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 16 to 23 | Jul 16 to 23 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Nov 5 to 19 |
| Onions | Dec 8 to Jan 19 | Mar 2 to 16 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 30 to Feb 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 16 to Aug 13 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 9 to 30 | Aug 13 to Sep 3 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 6 to 13 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 13 to 20 |
| Zucchini | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Broccoli | Jan 12 to Feb 2 | Mar 2 to 16 | Aug 20 to Sep 17 |
| Peas | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Spinach | Feb 16 to 23 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 27 to Oct 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 30 to Apr 20 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 28 to May 5 | May 26 to Jun 9 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 24 to Nov 19 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 24 to Nov 5 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Sep 24 to Oct 8 |
Nearby cities
- High Point, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Greensboro, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Burlington, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Mooresville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 9
- Kannapolis, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Concord, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
Planting in North CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Winston-Salem
Questions
When is the last frost in Winston-Salem?
Around March 30 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Piedmont Triad International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 14.
What planting zone is Winston-Salem in?
USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Winston-Salem?
Start seeds indoors February 20 to March 6 and set plants out April 17 to May 1.
When is the first frost in Winston-Salem?
Around November 5 in a typical year, and before October 25 about 1 year in 10.