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Last and first frost dates in Wilmington

United States

In Wilmington the last spring frost usually comes around 8 March and the first autumn frost around 1 December, which leaves about 268 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 15 March to 11 August.

Last spring frostaround 8 March
First autumn frostaround 1 December
Frost-free days268 days

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 Wilmington?

The last frost in Wilmington usually comes around 8 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 15 February, while corn waits until 15 March. The first autumn frost follows around 1 December, about 268 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha13 January – 23 August22 February – 2 October15 March – 2 October
Ageratumfrom 28 December—from 15 March
Arugula——sow 15 February – 27 October
Basil2 February – 29 September12 March – 6 November2 April – 6 November
Beet——sow 15 February – 2 October
Bell Pepper11 January – 12 June12 March – 11 August2 April – 11 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 22 December—from 15 March
Bok Choy18 January – 10 October22 February – 14 November15 March – 14 November
Borage——sow 15 March – 7 October
Broad bean——sow 15 February – 23 August
Broccoli——sow 15 February – 16 August
Brussels Sprouts11 December – 14 July25 January – 28 August15 February – 28 August
Busy Lizziefrom 21 December—from 15 March
Cabbage——sow 15 February – 24 July
Calendula——sow from 15 February
Carrot——sow 15 February – 8 September
Cauliflower14 December – 16 August25 January – 27 September15 February – 27 September
Celeriac7 December – 13 June22 February – 29 August15 March – 29 August
Celery7 December – 23 June22 February – 8 September15 March – 8 September
Celosiafrom 8 Januaryfrom 22 Februaryfrom 15 March
Chamomile——sow 15 February – 27 September
Chayote26 November – 6 June22 February – 2 September15 March – 2 September
Chickpea——sow 15 February – 13 August
Chicory31 December – 7 September—15 February – 2 October
Chili Pepper11 January – 19 July12 March – 17 September2 April – 17 September
China asterfrom 19 Januaryfrom 12 Marchfrom 2 April
Chives——sow 15 February – 18 September
Cilantro——sow 15 February – 28 September
Corn——sow 15 March – 13 August
Corn poppy——sow from 15 February
Cosmosfrom 8 Januaryfrom 22 Februaryfrom 15 March
Cucumber12 February – 19 August12 March – 16 September2 April – 16 September
Daikon——sow 15 February – 25 September
Delphiniumfrom 27 November—from 15 February
Dill——sow 15 February – 8 October
Edging lobeliafrom 21 December—from 15 March
Eggplant11 January – 12 June12 March – 11 August2 April – 11 August
Florence fennel8 January – 23 August22 February – 7 October15 March – 7 October
Foxglovefrom 9 November—from 15 February
Garden sorrel——sow 15 February – 26 September
Green Beans——sow 15 March – 21 August
Hollyhock——sow from 15 February
Hyssop——sow 15 February – 19 August
Kale——sow 15 February – 20 September
Kiwano21 January – 26 August22 February – 27 September15 March – 27 September
Kohlrabi——sow 15 February – 30 September
Leek16 November – 4 June25 January – 13 August15 February – 13 August
Lemon balm——sow 15 February – 22 September
Lettuce——sow 15 February – 5 October
Lisianthusfrom 30 Octoberfrom 25 Januaryfrom 15 February
Lovage——sow from 15 February
Luffa29 January – 20 June12 March – 1 August2 April – 1 August
Marigoldfrom 11 Januaryfrom 22 Februaryfrom 15 March
Marjoram11 January – 7 September—2 April – 6 November
Melon12 February – 6 August12 March – 3 September2 April – 3 September
Microgreens——sow 15 March – 17 November
Moringa13 February – 12 September9 April – 6 November30 April – 6 November
Moss rosefrom 28 December—from 15 March
Mustard greens——sow 15 February – 17 October
Napa cabbage20 January – 17 September22 February – 20 October15 March – 20 October
Nasturtiumfrom 15 Januaryfrom 22 Februaryfrom 15 March
Okra29 January – 31 August12 March – 12 October2 April – 12 October
Oregano26 November – 28 August25 January – 27 October15 February – 27 October
Pansyfrom 30 Novemberfrom 25 Januaryfrom 15 February
Parsley——sow 15 February – 16 September
Parsnip——sow 15 February – 5 August
Peanut3 February – 27 July12 March – 2 September2 April – 2 September
Peas——sow 15 February – 18 September
Petuniafrom 8 Januaryfrom 12 Marchfrom 2 April
Physalis8 January – 24 July22 February – 7 September15 March – 7 September
Pumpkin29 January – 25 June12 March – 6 August2 April – 6 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 24 November—from 15 February
Radish——sow 15 February – 1 November
Sage7 December – 24 August25 January – 12 October15 February – 12 October
Scarlet sagefrom 1 January—from 15 March
Snapdragonfrom 21 Novemberfrom 25 Januaryfrom 15 February
Soybean——sow 2 April – 12 September
Spinach——sow 15 February – 7 October
Stevia4 January – 15 July22 February – 2 September15 March – 2 September
Stock——sow from 15 February
Sunflower——sow from 15 March
Sweet alyssum——sow from 15 February
Sweet Corn31 January – 7 September22 February – 29 September15 March – 29 September
Sweet peafrom 14 Decemberfrom 25 Januaryfrom 15 February
Sweet William——sow from 15 February
Swiss Chard——sow 15 February – 2 October
Thyme——sow 15 February – 13 August
Tomato1 January – 20 June22 February – 11 August15 March – 11 August
Turnip——sow 15 February – 4 October
Watercress——sow 15 February – 15 October
Watermelon12 February – 25 July12 March – 22 August2 April – 22 August
Zinniafrom 5 Marchfrom 9 Aprilfrom 30 April
Zucchini19 February – 24 August12 March – 14 September2 April – 14 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.

When the soil warms up in Wilmington

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo).

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °Calready in the first week of January—
15 °C8 Marchsame day
18 °C2 April25 days later

Frost dates near Wilmington

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Charleston (4 February) and latest in Greensboro (23 March).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Raleigh186 km13 March19 November
Charleston247 km4 February20 December
Greensboro269 km23 March13 November
Columbia290 km9 March29 November
Charlotte292 km19 March13 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Wilmington

Within 15 km of Wilmington OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres (collected 29 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Walmart Garden Center, 4 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Wilmington

Frosts in Wilmington usually come from about 1 December to about 8 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 Wilmington by month

Average weather in Wilmington over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (23.3–31.2 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: July (31.2 °C) and August (30.3 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 3.9 °C. About 1498 mm of rain falls in a year, on 140 days; September is the wettest month (227 mm) and October the driest (70 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January13.53.9859
February17.16.8999
March19.69.28610
April23.312.9939
May26.917.512913
June29.721.113816
July31.223.516821
August30.322.720718
September28.320.222712
October24.115.2707
November19.19.3787
December15.461189

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 1 November
Crocusby 1 November
Daffodilby 1 November
Garlicby 1 November
Grape hyacinthby 1 November
Helleboreby 1 November
Hyacinthby 1 November
Lilyby 1 November
Ornamental onionby 1 November
Peonyby 1 November
Saffronby 1 November
Snowdropby 1 November
Tulipby 1 November
Wild garlicby 1 November

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).