Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Kernersville, NC
Plan your garden around Kernersville, NC's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
March 30
Safe Apr 14
Typical Mar 30
Risky Mar 12
First Fall Frost
November 5
Safe Oct 25
Typical Nov 5
Risky Nov 21
Growing Season
220 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 8a
Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.
Data: NOAA station PIEDMONT TRIAD INTL AP, NC US, 12 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | — | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | — | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | Mar 9 – Mar 16 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | — | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | — | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | Sep 10 – Sep 24 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | Sep 10 – Sep 24 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | Aug 27 – Sep 10 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | Sep 24 – Oct 1 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | Mar 9 – Mar 16 | Sep 3 – Sep 10 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | Aug 27 – Sep 3 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | Aug 13 – Aug 27 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | Aug 27 – Sep 10 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | — | Sep 24 – Oct 8 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | Aug 27 – Sep 10 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Oct 8 – Oct 22 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Feb 16 – Feb 23 | — | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | — | Sep 10 – Sep 24 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | — | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | — | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | — | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Mar 2 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Kernersville, NC?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the PIEDMONT TRIAD INTL AP, NC US station, the last spring frost in Kernersville typically falls around March 30. A cautious gardener might wait until April 14 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while March 12 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Kernersville, NC in fall?
The first fall frost in Kernersville typically arrives around November 5. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 25; in milder years it can hold off until November 21.
How long is the growing season in Kernersville, NC?
Kernersville's average frost-free growing season is about 220 days, running from the typical last spring frost (March 30) to the typical first fall frost (November 5).
What USDA hardiness zone is Kernersville, NC in?
Kernersville, NC is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.