Frost Dates for Huntersville, NC 28078

Last spring frost April 5 · First fall frost November 2 · 211 frost-free days · USDA Zone 8a

ZIP 28078 has about 71,700 people.

Long season: 211 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans March 14–April 23 (40 days). Fall frost risk spans October 17–November 19 (33 days).

Frost probability for 28078

Frost10%50%90%
Spring (last frost)April 23April 5March 14
Fall (first frost)October 17November 2November 19

Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at CONCORD (27.4 km away); the 50% date is the median year.

Which crops fit a 211-day season in Huntersville

In Huntersville (211 frost-free days, a long season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.

CropStart indoorsPlant out / sowDays you haveVerdictLast sow date
TomatoMar 1Apr 19–Apr 26169fits: 80 days to maturity, 169 available after Apr 19.Jul 3
PepperFeb 22Apr 19–Apr 26169fits: 75 days to maturity, 169 available after Apr 19.Jul 8
LettuceFeb 8Mar 8–Mar 15246two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 11; both mature before Nov 9.Sep 11
Carrots—Mar 15–Mar 22253fits: 70 days to maturity, 253 available after Mar 15.Aug 31
CucumberMar 15Apr 19–Apr 26183two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19.Aug 6
Beans—Apr 12–Apr 26197two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 26.Aug 13
Peas—Feb 8–Apr 19274fits: 65 days to maturity, 274 available after Feb 8.Aug 22
ZucchiniMar 22Apr 19–Apr 26183two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19.Aug 11
OnionJan 11Mar 8–Mar 22246fits: 100 days to maturity, 246 available after Mar 8.—
Spinach—Feb 8–Mar 29288two-plantings: Plant Feb 8 and again by Sep 30; both mature before Nov 23.Sep 30
KaleJan 25Mar 8–Mar 22260two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 15; both mature before Nov 23.Sep 15
BroccoliFeb 8Mar 8–Mar 22246fits: 80 days to maturity, 246 available after Mar 8.Aug 7
CabbageFeb 8Mar 8–Mar 22260fits: 70 days to maturity, 260 available after Mar 8.Aug 31
Radish—Feb 8–May 3274two-plantings: Plant Feb 8 and again by Oct 1; both mature before Nov 9.Oct 1
Beets—Feb 8–May 3274two-plantings: Plant Feb 8 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Nov 9.Sep 1
Potatoes—Mar 22–Mar 29232fits: 90 days to maturity, 232 available after Mar 22.—
Garlic—Nov 2316overwinter: Plant Nov 2 to Nov 23; harvest the following summer.Nov 23
Strawberry—Mar 1–Apr 26267perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 1; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years.—
CornMar 8Apr 12–Apr 19183fits: 75 days to maturity, 183 available after Apr 12.Jul 15
PumpkinMar 22Apr 19–Apr 19176fits: 100 days to maturity, 176 available after Apr 19.Jun 20
CauliflowerFeb 22Mar 29–Apr 12225fits: 75 days to maturity, 225 available after Mar 29.Aug 12
Swiss ChardFeb 8Mar 22–Mar 22232two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Nov 9.Sep 1
Arugula—Feb 8–May 3288two-plantings: Plant Feb 8 and again by Sep 30; both mature before Nov 23.Sep 30
Brussel SproutsFeb 8Mar 8–Mar 22260fits: 100 days to maturity, 260 available after Mar 8.Aug 1
Butternut SquashMar 22Apr 19–Apr 26176fits: 100 days to maturity, 176 available after Apr 19.Jun 20
EggplantFeb 15Apr 19–Apr 26169fits: 70 days to maturity, 169 available after Apr 19.Jul 13
OkraMar 8Apr 12–Apr 19190two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19.Aug 11
BasilMar 1Apr 26–Apr 26176two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19.Aug 6
Cilantro—Mar 8–Mar 29246two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 6; both mature before Nov 9.Sep 6
ParsleyJan 25Apr 12–Apr 19211fits: 70 days to maturity, 211 available after Apr 12.Aug 17
CeleryJan 25Apr 12–Apr 26211fits: 120 days to maturity, 211 available after Apr 12.Jun 28
ScallionsJan 25Mar 8–Mar 22260two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 10; both mature before Nov 23.Sep 10
Turnip—Mar 8–Mar 22260two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 20; both mature before Nov 23.Sep 20
Kohlrabi—Feb 22–Mar 8274two-plantings: Plant Feb 22 and again by Sep 15; both mature before Nov 23.Sep 15
Bok ChoyMar 8Mar 29–Apr 5225two-plantings: Plant Mar 29 and again by Sep 11; both mature before Nov 9.Sep 11
CollardsJan 25Mar 8–Mar 22260two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 10; both mature before Nov 23.Sep 10
CantaloupeMar 22Apr 19–Apr 26169fits: 85 days to maturity, 169 available after Apr 19.Jun 28
ChivesJan 11Apr 12–Apr 19225fits: 90 days to maturity, 225 available after Apr 12.—
Dill—Feb 8–May 3274two-plantings: Plant Feb 8 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Nov 9.Sep 1
OreganoJan 25Apr 12–Apr 19225fits: 80 days to maturity, 225 available after Apr 12.—
RosemaryJan 11Apr 12–Apr 19211fits: 80 days to maturity, 211 available after Apr 12.—
SageFeb 8Apr 12–Apr 19225fits: 75 days to maturity, 225 available after Apr 12.—
ThymeJan 25Apr 12–Apr 19225fits: 90 days to maturity, 225 available after Apr 12.—
CalendulaFeb 22Mar 22–Apr 5232two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Sep 6; both mature before Nov 9.Sep 6
CosmosMar 8Apr 5–Apr 19197two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19.Aug 6
LavenderJan 11Apr 5–Apr 19232fits: 90 days to maturity, 232 available after Apr 5.—
MarigoldsFeb 22Apr 5–Apr 12197two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 19.Aug 16
MelonsMar 22Apr 19–Apr 26169fits: 85 days to maturity, 169 available after Apr 19.Jun 28
Mint—Apr 5–Apr 19232fits: 90 days to maturity, 232 available after Apr 5.—
NasturtiumsMar 8Apr 5–Apr 12197two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19.Aug 11
Pole Beans—Apr 12–Apr 26190fits: 65 days to maturity, 190 available after Apr 12.Aug 1
Spaghetti SquashMar 22Apr 19–Apr 26176fits: 90 days to maturity, 176 available after Apr 19.Jun 30
Sunflowers—Apr 5–Apr 19197fits: 70 days to maturity, 197 available after Apr 5.Jul 27
TomatillosFeb 8Apr 12–Apr 19176fits: 75 days to maturity, 176 available after Apr 12.Jul 8
WatermelonMar 22Apr 12–Apr 19176fits: 80 days to maturity, 176 available after Apr 12.Jul 3
Yellow SquashMar 22Apr 19–Apr 26183two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19.Aug 11
ZinniasMar 8Apr 5–Apr 19197two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19.Aug 6

Month by month in Huntersville

MonthWhat to do
JanuaryStart indoors: Chives (Jan 11), Lavender (Jan 11), Onion (Jan 11), Rosemary (Jan 11), Celery (Jan 25), Collards (Jan 25), +5 more.
FebruaryStart indoors: Broccoli (Feb 8), Brussel Sprouts (Feb 8), Cabbage (Feb 8), Lettuce (Feb 8), Sage (Feb 8), Swiss Chard (Feb 8), +6 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Feb 8), Beets (Feb 8), Dill (Feb 8), Peas (Feb 8), Radish (Feb 8), Spinach (Feb 8), +1 more.
MarchStart indoors: Basil (Mar 1), Tomato (Mar 1), Bok Choy (Mar 8), Corn (Mar 8), Cosmos (Mar 8), Nasturtiums (Mar 8), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Mar 8), Turnip (Mar 8), Carrots (Mar 15), Potatoes (Mar 22). Transplant from: Broccoli (Mar 8), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 8), Cabbage (Mar 8), Collards (Mar 8), Kale (Mar 8), Lettuce (Mar 8), +6 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 1).
AprilDirect sow from: Sunflowers (Apr 5), Beans (Apr 12), Pole Beans (Apr 12). Transplant from: Cosmos (Apr 5), Lavender (Apr 5), Marigolds (Apr 5), Mint (Apr 5), Nasturtiums (Apr 5), Zinnias (Apr 5), +23 more. Last frost around April 5.
MayFrost has passed. Transplant tomatoes, peppers, and basil outdoors. Direct sow beans, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini.
JuneLast sowing dates: Butternut Squash (Jun 20), Pumpkin (Jun 20), Cantaloupe (Jun 28), Celery (Jun 28), Melons (Jun 28), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 30).
JulyLast sowing dates: Tomato (Jul 3), Watermelon (Jul 3), Pepper (Jul 8), Tomatillos (Jul 8), Eggplant (Jul 13), Corn (Jul 15), +1 more.
AugustLast sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Aug 1), Pole Beans (Aug 1), Basil (Aug 6), Cosmos (Aug 6), Cucumber (Aug 6), Zinnias (Aug 6), +12 more.
SeptemberLast sowing dates: Beets (Sep 1), Dill (Sep 1), Swiss Chard (Sep 1), Calendula (Sep 6), Cilantro (Sep 6), Collards (Sep 10), +8 more.
OctoberLast sowing dates: Radish (Oct 1).
NovemberDirect sow from: Garlic (Nov 2). First frost around November 2. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 23).
DecemberHarvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last frost date for Huntersville, NC (ZIP 28078)?

The median last spring frost date for Huntersville, NC (ZIP code 28078) is around April 5. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before March 14; one in ten it runs past April 23.

What is the first fall frost date in Huntersville, NC?

The median first fall frost date for Huntersville, NC is around November 2. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around October 17 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.

How long is the growing season in Huntersville, NC?

The frost-free growing season in Huntersville is about 211 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Huntersville (211 frost-free days, a long season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.

What USDA hardiness zone is Huntersville, NC?

Huntersville, NC is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.

When should I start tomatoes indoors in Huntersville, NC?

Start tomatoes indoors Mar 1 and plant out Apr 19 in Huntersville. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.

How many plantings of lettuce fit in Huntersville?

Two: plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 11; both mature before Nov 9.

When do I plant garlic in Huntersville?

Nov 2 to Nov 23; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.

Can I get two tomato crops in Huntersville?

Yes: plant out Apr 19 for a summer crop, and set out a second round of transplants by Jul 3 for a fall crop.

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