Frost Dates for Sylva, NC 28779
Last spring frost May 1 · First fall frost October 13 · 165 frost-free days · USDA Zone 7b
ZIP 28779 has about 18,100 people.
Moderate season: 165 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 13–May 18 (35 days). Fall frost risk spans September 30–October 26 (26 days).
Frost probability for 28779
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 18 | May 1 | April 13 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 30 | October 13 | October 26 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at FRANKLIN (25.7 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 165-day season in Sylva
In Sylva (165 frost-free days, a moderate season), 31 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 24 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 27 | May 15–May 22 | 123 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 123 available after May 15. | Jun 13 |
| Pepper | Mar 20 | May 15–May 22 | 123 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 123 available after May 15. | Jun 18 |
| Lettuce | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 10 | 200 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 22; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 22 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 10–Apr 17 | 207 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 207 available after Apr 10. | Aug 11 |
| Cucumber | Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | 137 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 17 |
| Beans | — | May 8–May 22 | 151 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 24; both mature before Oct 6. | Jul 24 |
| Peas | — | Mar 6–May 15 | 228 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 228 available after Mar 6. | Aug 2 |
| Zucchini | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 137 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 22 |
| Onion | Feb 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 200 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 200 available after Apr 3. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 6–Apr 24 | 242 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Sep 10; both mature before Nov 3. | Sep 10 |
| Kale | Feb 20 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 214 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Nov 3. | Aug 26 |
| Broccoli | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 200 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 200 available after Apr 3. | Jul 18 |
| Cabbage | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 214 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 214 available after Apr 3. | Aug 11 |
| Radish | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 228 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Sep 11; both mature before Oct 20. | Sep 11 |
| Beets | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 228 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 12 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 17–Apr 24 | 186 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 186 available after Apr 17. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 13 | 270 | overwinter: Plant Oct 13 to Nov 3; harvest the following summer. | Nov 3 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 27–May 22 | 221 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 27; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 3 | May 8–May 15 | 137 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 137 available after May 8. | Jun 25 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 17 | May 15–May 15 | 130 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 130 available after May 15. | May 31 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 20 | Apr 24–May 8 | 179 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 179 available after Apr 24. | Jul 23 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 6 | Apr 17–Apr 17 | 186 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 12 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 242 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Sep 10; both mature before Nov 3. | Sep 10 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 214 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 214 available after Apr 3. | Jul 12 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 130 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 130 available after May 15. | May 31 |
| Eggplant | Mar 13 | May 15–May 22 | 123 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 123 available after May 15. | Jun 23 |
| Okra | Apr 3 | May 8–May 15 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 22 |
| Basil | Mar 27 | May 22–May 22 | 130 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 130 available after May 22. | Jul 17 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 3–Apr 24 | 200 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 17 |
| Parsley | Feb 20 | May 8–May 15 | 165 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 165 available after May 8. | Jul 28 |
| Celery | Feb 20 | May 8–May 22 | 165 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 165 available after May 8. | Jun 8 |
| Scallions | Feb 20 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 214 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Nov 3. | Aug 21 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 214 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Nov 3. | Aug 31 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 20–Apr 3 | 228 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 20 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Nov 3. | Aug 26 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 3 | Apr 24–May 1 | 179 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 24 and again by Aug 22; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 22 |
| Collards | Feb 20 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 214 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Nov 3. | Aug 21 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 123 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 123 available after May 15. | Jun 8 |
| Chives | Feb 6 | May 8–May 15 | 179 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 179 available after May 8. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 228 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 12 |
| Oregano | Feb 20 | May 8–May 15 | 179 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 179 available after May 8. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 6 | May 8–May 15 | 165 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 165 available after May 8. | — |
| Sage | Mar 6 | May 8–May 15 | 179 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 179 available after May 8. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 20 | May 8–May 15 | 179 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 179 available after May 8. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 20 | Apr 17–May 1 | 186 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 17 |
| Cosmos | Apr 3 | May 1–May 15 | 151 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 17 |
| Lavender | Feb 6 | May 1–May 15 | 186 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 186 available after May 1. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 20 | May 1–May 8 | 151 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 27; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 27 |
| Melons | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 123 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 123 available after May 15. | Jun 8 |
| Mint | — | May 1–May 15 | 186 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 186 available after May 1. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 3 | May 1–May 8 | 151 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 22 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 8–May 22 | 144 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 144 available after May 8. | Jul 12 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 130 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 130 available after May 15. | Jun 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 1–May 15 | 151 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 151 available after May 1. | Jul 7 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 6 | May 8–May 15 | 130 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 130 available after May 8. | Jun 18 |
| Watermelon | Apr 17 | May 8–May 15 | 130 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 130 available after May 8. | Jun 13 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 137 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 22 |
| Zinnias | Apr 3 | May 1–May 15 | 151 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 17 |
Month by month in Sylva
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 6), Lavender (Feb 6), Onion (Feb 6), Rosemary (Feb 6), Celery (Feb 20), Collards (Feb 20), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 6), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 6), Cabbage (Mar 6), Lettuce (Mar 6), Sage (Mar 6), Swiss Chard (Mar 6), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 6), Beets (Mar 6), Dill (Mar 6), Peas (Mar 6), Radish (Mar 6), Spinach (Mar 6), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 27). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 3), Corn (Apr 3), Cosmos (Apr 3), Nasturtiums (Apr 3), Okra (Apr 3), Zinnias (Apr 3), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 3), Turnip (Apr 3), Carrots (Apr 10), Potatoes (Apr 17). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 3), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 3), Cabbage (Apr 3), Collards (Apr 3), Kale (Apr 3), Lettuce (Apr 3), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 1), Beans (May 8), Pole Beans (May 8). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 1), Lavender (May 1), Marigolds (May 1), Mint (May 1), Nasturtiums (May 1), Zinnias (May 1), +23 more. Last frost around May 1. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 31), Pumpkin (May 31). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 8), Celery (Jun 8), Melons (Jun 8), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 10), Tomato (Jun 13), Watermelon (Jun 13), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 7), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 12), Pole Beans (Jul 12), Basil (Jul 17), Cosmos (Jul 17), Cucumber (Jul 17), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Peas (Aug 2), Cabbage (Aug 11), Carrots (Aug 11), Beets (Aug 12), Dill (Aug 12), Swiss Chard (Aug 12), +9 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 10), Spinach (Sep 10), Radish (Sep 11). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 13). First frost around October 13. |
| November | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 3). |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Sylva, NC (ZIP 28779)?
The median last spring frost date for Sylva, NC (ZIP code 28779) is around May 1. 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 April 13; one in ten it runs past May 18.
What is the first fall frost date in Sylva, NC?
The median first fall frost date for Sylva, NC is around October 13. 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 September 30 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Sylva, NC?
The frost-free growing season in Sylva is about 165 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 Sylva (165 frost-free days, a moderate season), 31 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 24 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Sylva, NC?
Sylva, NC is in USDA hardiness zone 7b (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 Sylva, NC?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 27 and plant out May 15 in Sylva. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Sylva?
Two: plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 22; both mature before Oct 20.
When do I plant garlic in Sylva?
Oct 13 to Nov 3; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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