North Carolina frost dates

Across North Carolina, the average last spring frost is around April 5 and the average first fall frost around October 25 — roughly 203 frost-free days. USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b.

Risk you accept	Last spring frost by	First fall frost by
Cautious (~10%)	April 19	October 11
Average (~50%)	April 5	October 25
Gambler (~90%)	March 22	November 8

North Carolina spans a wide range of elevations and climates — your town’s dates can differ from the state average by two weeks or more. Look up your exact ZIP.

→ Turn these into sowing dates with the North Carolina planting calendar, or look up an exact ZIP code.

Statewide average from NOAA/NCEI freeze normals. Cautious/gambler dates are about two weeks either side of the average.