When to Plant in Durham, NC

Durham sits in the heart of North Carolina's Piedmont region — Zone 7b with a typical last frost around April 9. You get four genuine seasons here, with hot and humid summers, mild springs and falls, and cold winters with occasional snow and ice.

The key to gardening in Durham is leveraging the excellent spring and fall shoulder seasons. Spring planting from March through May and fall planting from August through October produce the best results. Cool-season crops like lettuce, broccoli, and spinach thrive in both shoulder seasons.

What to plant now in Durham

Spring: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, and cucumbers and corn after last frost in early April.
Summer: Maintain warm-season crops. Watch for heat stress and water consistently.
Fall: Broccoli, kale, lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes — fall is often better than spring.
Winter: Garlic, overwintering greens with row cover, cover crops, and seed ordering.

In Durham (202 frost-free days, a long season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.

Month by month in Durham

Month	What to do
January	Order seeds. Start onion seeds indoors. Plan garden layout.
February	Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors. Direct sow cold-hardy greens outside.
March	Direct sow peas, spinach, and lettuce. Transplant cool-season seedlings.
April	Transplant tomatoes and peppers after last frost (around April 9). Plant beans, squash.
May	Fill the garden with warm-season crops. Plant cucumbers and corn.
June	Summer maintenance. Stake tomatoes and water deeply in hot weather.
July	Start fall seedlings indoors. Harvest summer crops and watch for pests.
August	Plant fall broccoli, kale, and cauliflower transplants. Direct sow carrots.
September	Main fall planting: lettuce, spinach, radishes, arugula.
October	Continue fall planting. Plant garlic. First frosts possible late in month.
November	Harvest fall crops. Protect tender plants with row cover.
December	Harvest cold-hardy greens. Plan next year's garden.

Frost dates for Durham ZIP codes

ZIP	Last spring frost (50%)	First fall frost (50%)	Zone
27703	April 9	October 28	8a

FAQ

When is the last frost date in Durham, NC?

Durham's average last frost date is around April 9. Start seeds indoors in early February and wait until early April to transplant warm-season crops outdoors.

What vegetables grow best in Durham?

Durham's climate is excellent for tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, and cucumbers in summer. Fall is outstanding for kale, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, and spinach.

Is fall better than spring for gardening in Durham?

Many Durham gardeners prefer fall — temperatures moderate after summer, fewer pest problems, and cool-season crops like broccoli and kale produce abundantly from August through November.

When should I plant tomatoes in Durham?

Start tomato seeds indoors in late February. Transplant outdoors after April 9 when frost risk has passed. Look for disease-resistant varieties that handle Durham's summer humidity.

How does Plan My Garden help Durham gardeners?

Enter your Durham zip code and we'll look up your exact frost dates, then generate a personalized week-by-week planting schedule for every crop you choose.