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Planting Calendar for Fuquay-Varina, NC

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-season crops, such as kale and lettuce, do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on November 4 (at CARY, NC climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 16-Oct 21
Moon Sep 16-17, Oct 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 12-Sep 9
Moon Aug 20-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 26-Sep 16
Moon Sep 2-16
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 5-12
Moon Aug 5-12
Frost Aug 26-Sep 9
Moon Sep 2-9
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 15-29
Moon Jul 15-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 5-12
Moon Aug 5-12
Frost Aug 26-Sep 2
Moon Sep 2
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 19-26
Moon Aug 20-26
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 29-Aug 5
Moon Aug 4-5
Frost Aug 12-19
Moon Aug 12-19
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 12-Sep 9
Moon Aug 12-19, Sep 2-9
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 5-19
Moon Aug 5-19
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 18-Dec 2
Moon Nov 18-30
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 19-Sep 2
Moon Aug 19
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 26-Sep 9
Moon Sep 2-9
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 2-23
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 26-Sep 9
Moon Sep 2-9
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 2-23
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 26-Sep 9
Moon Sep 2-9
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 23-Oct 7
Moon Sep 23-Oct 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 16-Oct 7
Moon Sep 16-17, Oct 2-7
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 26-Sep 9
Moon Sep 2-9
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 2-16
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 4 (at CARY, NC climate station, elevation 390 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 9-21
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost Mar 6-14
Oct 7
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 26-Apr 4
Apr 4
BasilFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
Sep 23
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 26-Apr 4
Frost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Apr 18
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 24-25
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
N/AAug 12
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
May 16
BroccoliFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 9-21
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 6-14
Sep 2
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 6-14
Jul 29
CabbageFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 9-21
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 6-14
Apr 11
CantaloupesFrost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 8-18
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Jul 29
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-21
Moon Mar 6-21
Aug 26
CauliflowerFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Mar 28-Apr 11
Moon Apr 8-11
N/AAug 19
CeleryFrost Jan 10-24
Moon Jan 11-24
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
Frost Apr 4
Aug 26
ChivesFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 9-21
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Sep 9
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 8-18
Apr 25
CollardsFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Aug 26
CucumbersFrost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Aug 26
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 28-Apr 18
Moon Apr 8-18
Sep 9
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Jul 29
EggplantsFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 9-21
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
N/AAug 26
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-14
Apr 18
FennelFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Frost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 8-18
Aug 19
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 11-May 2
Moon Apr 11-23
Aug 26
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Aug 5
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 24-25
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 9-21
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 6-14
Apr 18
KohlrabiFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Frost Mar 6-14
Apr 18
LeeksFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 24-25
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
N/AJul 22
LettuceFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Frost Mar 6-14
Apr 18
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 6-21
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
Aug 26
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 6-21
Moon Mar 6-21
N/AJul 29
OreganoFrost Jan 24-Feb 21
Moon Jan 24-25, Feb 9-21
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
N/AAug 26
ParsleyFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 24-25
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
Frost Mar 6-Apr 11
Moon Mar 22-25
Aug 19
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Jul 29
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 25-May 9
Moon Apr 25-May 6
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-14
Apr 18
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-21
Moon Mar 6-21
Aug 26
PumpkinsFrost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Jul 22
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Sep 9
RosemaryFrost Jan 10-24
Moon Jan 11-24
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
N/ASep 9
SageFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 9-21
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
N/AAug 19
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-21
Moon Mar 6-21
Jul 29
SpinachFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Frost Mar 6-14
Apr 18
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
Aug 19
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 24-May 2
Jul 22
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 14-Apr 4
Moon Mar 14-25
Apr 18
ThymeFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 24-25
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
N/AAug 12
TomatillosFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
N/AAug 19
TomatoesFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 9-21
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
N/AAug 5
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Oct 7
WatermelonsFrost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Aug 5
Winter SquashFrost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Jul 15
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
Frost Apr 18-25
Moon Apr 18-23
Sep 2
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