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Last and first frost dates in Raleigh

United States

In Raleigh the last spring frost usually comes around 13 March and the first autumn frost around 19 November, which leaves about 251 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 26 March to 30 July.

Last spring frostaround 13 March
First autumn frostaround 19 November
Frost-free days251 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 8a

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Raleigh?

The last frost in Raleigh usually comes around 13 March: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 20 February, while corn waits until 20 March. The first autumn frost follows around 19 November, about 251 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha18 January – 11 August27 February – 20 September20 March – 20 September
Ageratumfrom 8 January—from 26 March
Arugula——sow 20 February – 15 October
Basil18 February – 17 September28 March – 25 October18 April – 25 October
Beet——sow 20 February – 20 September
Bell Pepper27 January – 31 May28 March – 30 July18 April – 30 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 27 December—from 20 March
Bok Choy23 January – 28 September27 February – 2 November20 March – 2 November
Borage——sow 20 March – 25 September
Broad bean——sow 20 February – 11 August
Broccoli——sow 20 February – 4 August
Brussels Sprouts16 December – 2 July30 January – 16 August20 February – 16 August
Busy Lizziefrom 26 December—from 20 March
Cabbage——sow 20 February – 12 July
Calendula——sow from 20 February
Carrot——sow 20 February – 27 August
Cauliflower19 December – 4 August30 January – 15 September20 February – 15 September
Celeriac12 December – 1 June27 February – 17 August20 March – 17 August
Celery12 December – 11 June27 February – 27 August20 March – 27 August
Celosiafrom 24 Januaryfrom 10 Marchfrom 31 March
Chamomile——sow 20 February – 15 September
Chayote1 December – 25 May27 February – 21 August20 March – 21 August
Chickpea——sow 20 February – 1 August
Chicory5 January – 26 August—20 February – 20 September
Chili Pepper27 January – 7 July28 March – 5 September18 April – 5 September
China asterfrom 4 Februaryfrom 28 Marchfrom 18 April
Chives——sow 20 February – 6 September
Cilantro——sow 20 February – 16 September
Corn——sow 20 March – 1 August
Corn poppy——sow from 20 February
Cosmosfrom 24 Januaryfrom 10 Marchfrom 31 March
Cucumber28 February – 7 August28 March – 4 September18 April – 4 September
Daikon——sow 20 February – 13 September
Delphiniumfrom 2 December—from 20 February
Dill——sow 20 February – 26 September
Edging lobeliafrom 26 December—from 20 March
Eggplant27 January – 31 May28 March – 30 July18 April – 30 July
Florence fennel13 January – 11 August27 February – 25 September20 March – 25 September
Foxglovefrom 14 November—from 20 February
Garden sorrel——sow 20 February – 14 September
Green Beans——sow 31 March – 9 August
Hollyhock——sow from 20 February
Hyssop——sow 20 February – 7 August
Kale——sow 20 February – 8 September
Kiwano1 February – 14 August5 March – 15 September26 March – 15 September
Kohlrabi——sow 20 February – 18 September
Leek21 November – 23 May30 January – 1 August20 February – 1 August
Lemon balm——sow 20 February – 10 September
Lettuce——sow 20 February – 23 September
Lisianthusfrom 4 Novemberfrom 30 Januaryfrom 20 February
Lovage——sow from 20 February
Luffa14 February – 8 June28 March – 20 July18 April – 20 July
Marigoldfrom 16 Januaryfrom 27 Februaryfrom 20 March
Marjoram27 January – 26 August—18 April – 25 October
Melon28 February – 25 July28 March – 22 August18 April – 22 August
Microgreens——sow 31 March – 5 November
Moringa18 February – 31 August14 April – 25 October5 May – 25 October
Moss rosefrom 2 January—from 20 March
Mustard greens——sow 20 February – 5 October
Napa cabbage25 January – 5 September27 February – 8 October20 March – 8 October
Nasturtiumfrom 20 Januaryfrom 27 Februaryfrom 20 March
Okra14 February – 19 August28 March – 30 September18 April – 30 September
Oregano1 December – 16 August30 January – 15 October20 February – 15 October
Pansyfrom 5 Decemberfrom 30 Januaryfrom 20 February
Parsley——sow 20 February – 4 September
Parsnip——sow 20 February – 24 July
Peanut19 February – 15 July28 March – 21 August18 April – 21 August
Peas——sow 20 February – 6 September
Petuniafrom 24 Januaryfrom 28 Marchfrom 18 April
Physalis19 January – 12 July5 March – 26 August26 March – 26 August
Pumpkin14 February – 13 June28 March – 25 July18 April – 25 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 29 November—from 20 February
Radish——sow 20 February – 20 October
Sage12 December – 12 August30 January – 30 September20 February – 30 September
Scarlet sagefrom 12 January—from 26 March
Snapdragonfrom 26 Novemberfrom 30 Januaryfrom 20 February
Soybean——sow 18 April – 31 August
Spinach——sow 20 February – 25 September
Stevia15 January – 3 July5 March – 21 August26 March – 21 August
Stock——sow from 20 February
Sunflower——sow from 31 March
Sweet alyssum——sow from 20 February
Sweet Corn5 February – 26 August27 February – 17 September20 March – 17 September
Sweet peafrom 19 Decemberfrom 30 Januaryfrom 20 February
Sweet William——sow from 20 February
Swiss Chard——sow 20 February – 20 September
Thyme——sow 20 February – 1 August
Tomato12 January – 8 June5 March – 30 July26 March – 30 July
Turnip——sow 20 February – 22 September
Watercress——sow 20 February – 3 October
Watermelon28 February – 13 July28 March – 10 August18 April – 10 August
Zinniafrom 10 Marchfrom 14 Aprilfrom 5 May
Zucchini7 March – 12 August28 March – 2 September18 April – 2 September

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

What planting zone is Raleigh?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Raleigh (ZIP 27601) in zone 8a. Zone 8a stands for an average coldest night of 10 to 15 °F (-12.2 to -9.4 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 8a or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for Raleigh: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Raleigh

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 49 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 13 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C23 January49 days earlier
15 °C26 March13 days later
18 °C18 April36 days later

Frost dates near Raleigh

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Wilmington (8 March) and latest in Roanoke (3 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Greensboro109 km23 March13 November
Wilmington186 km8 March1 December
Roanoke203 km3 April11 November
Charlotte208 km19 March13 November
Richmond224 km26 March16 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Raleigh

Within 15 km of Raleigh OpenStreetMap lists 8 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops, 1 plant nursery, 4 markets and 6 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Logans Garden Shop, 2 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Raleigh

Frosts in Raleigh usually come from about 19 November to about 13 March. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Raleigh by month

Average weather in Raleigh over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (22.4–32 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (30 °C), July (32 °C) and August (30.2 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.4 °C. About 1307 mm of rain falls in a year, on 132 days; September is the wettest month (156 mm) and October the driest (77 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January10.51.410410
February14.349111
March17.76.79711
April22.410.9979
May26.115.812412
June3019.711113
July3222.313616
August30.221.213715
September27.618.415612
October22.412.8777
November16.66.7837
December12.43.2949

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 20 October
Crocusby 20 October
Daffodilby 20 October
Garlic20 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 20 October
Helleboreby 20 October
Hyacinthby 20 October
Lilyby 20 October
Ornamental onionby 20 October
Peonyby 20 October
Saffronby 20 October
Snowdropby 20 October
Tulipby 20 October
Wild garlicby 20 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).