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Planting Calendar for Winston-Salem, 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 3 (at WINSTON SALEM RYNLDS AP, NC climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 15-Oct 20
Moon Sep 15-17, Oct 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 11-Sep 8
Moon Aug 20-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 25-Sep 15
Moon Sep 2-15
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 4-11
Moon Aug 4-11
Frost Aug 25-Sep 8
Moon Sep 2-8
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 14-28
Moon Jul 14-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 4-11
Moon Aug 4-11
Frost Aug 25-Sep 1
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 18-25
Moon Aug 20-25
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 28-Aug 4
Moon Aug 4
Frost Aug 11-18
Moon Aug 11-18
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 11-Sep 8
Moon Aug 11-19, Sep 2-8
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 4-18
Moon Aug 4-18
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 16-30
Moon Nov 16-30
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 18-Sep 1
Moon Aug 18-19
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 25-Sep 8
Moon Sep 2-8
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 1-22
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 25-Sep 8
Moon Sep 2-8
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 1-22
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 25-Sep 8
Moon Sep 2-8
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 22-Oct 6
Moon Sep 22-Oct 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 15-Oct 6
Moon Sep 15-17, Oct 2-6
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 25-Sep 8
Moon Sep 2-8
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 1-15
Moon Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 2 (at WINSTON SALEM RYNLDS AP, NC climate station, elevation 971 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 5-19
Moon Feb 9-19
Frost Mar 12-26
Moon Mar 12-25
Frost Mar 4-12
Oct 6
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 26-Apr 2
Apr 2
BasilFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Sep 22
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 26-Apr 2
Frost Mar 4-12
Moon Mar 4-12
Apr 16
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 22-25
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
N/AAug 11
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
May 14
BroccoliFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 9-19
Frost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 4-12
Sep 1
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 4-12
Jul 28
CabbageFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 9-19
Frost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 4-12
Apr 9
CantaloupesFrost Mar 12-26
Moon Mar 12-25
Frost Apr 2-16
Moon Apr 8-16
Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Jul 28
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 4-19
Moon Mar 4-19
Aug 25
CauliflowerFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Apr 8-9
N/AAug 18
CeleryFrost Jan 8-22
Moon Jan 11-22
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Frost Apr 2
Aug 25
ChivesFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 9-19
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Sep 8
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 2-16
Moon Apr 8-16
Apr 23
CollardsFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Aug 25
CucumbersFrost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Aug 25
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 26-Apr 16
Moon Apr 8-16
Sep 8
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Jul 28
EggplantsFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 9-19
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
N/AAug 25
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 4-12
Apr 16
FennelFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Frost Apr 2-16
Moon Apr 8-16
Aug 18
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 9-30
Moon Apr 9-23
Aug 25
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Aug 4
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 22-25
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 9-19
Frost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 4-12
Apr 16
KohlrabiFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Frost Mar 4-12
Apr 16
LeeksFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 22-25
Frost Mar 12-26
Moon Mar 12-25
N/AJul 21
LettuceFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Frost Mar 4-12
Apr 16
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 4-19
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Aug 25
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 4-19
Moon Mar 4-19
N/AJul 28
OreganoFrost Jan 22-Feb 19
Moon Jan 22-25, Feb 9-19
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
N/AAug 25
ParsleyFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 22-25
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Frost Mar 4-Apr 9
Moon Mar 20-25
Aug 18
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 4-12
Moon Mar 4-12
Jul 28
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-May 7
Moon Apr 24-May 6
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 4-12
Apr 16
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 4-19
Moon Mar 4-19
Aug 25
PumpkinsFrost Mar 12-26
Moon Mar 12-25
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Jul 21
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 4-12
Moon Mar 4-12
Sep 8
RosemaryFrost Jan 8-22
Moon Jan 11-22
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
N/ASep 8
SageFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 9-19
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
N/AAug 18
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 4-19
Moon Mar 4-19
Jul 28
SpinachFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Frost Mar 4-12
Apr 16
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Aug 18
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 24-30
Jul 21
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Mar 12-Apr 2
Moon Mar 12-25
Apr 16
ThymeFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 22-25
Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
N/AAug 11
TomatillosFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
N/AAug 18
TomatoesFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 9-19
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
N/AAug 4
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 4-12
Moon Mar 4-12
Oct 6
WatermelonsFrost Mar 12-26
Moon Mar 12-25
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Aug 4
Winter SquashFrost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Jul 14
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 12-19
Moon Mar 12-19
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 16-23
Sep 1
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