Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Kinston, NC

The average first fall frost in Kinston, NC is November 11, and the average last spring frost is March 25, giving a growing season of about 232 days.

Plan your garden around Kinston, 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 25

Safe Apr 7 Typical Mar 25 Risky Mar 9

First Fall Frost

November 11

Safe Oct 29 Typical Nov 11 Risky Dec 2

Growing Season

232 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 8b

Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.

Data: NOAA station KINSTON AG RSCH, NC US, 4 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Kinston Compares

Kinston's typical last spring frost (Mar 25) comes earlier than in 83% of the 95 North Carolina cities we track.
Its 232-day growing season is 12 days longer than the North Carolina median of 220 days.
Compared with Goldsboro (40 km away), Kinston's last spring frost comes 3 days earlier than Goldsboro's, and its first fall frost arrives 1 day earlier.
July is the warmest month (average high 91°F) and January the coldest (average low 35°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Jan 28 – Feb 11	—	Apr 1 – Apr 8	—	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 14 – Jan 28	—	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	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 14 – Jan 28	—	Apr 8 – Apr 15	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Feb 25 – Mar 4	Apr 1 – Apr 8	Apr 1 – Apr 8	—	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 4 – Mar 11	Apr 1 – Apr 15	Apr 1 – Apr 8	—	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	Feb 25 – Mar 4	Apr 1 – Apr 15	Apr 1 – Apr 8	—	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 1 – Apr 15	—	—	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	Feb 25 – Mar 4	—	Apr 8 – Apr 15	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Feb 25 – Mar 4	—	Apr 8 – Apr 15	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	—	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 25 – Apr 8	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Feb 11 – Feb 25	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Sep 16 – Sep 30	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Feb 11 – Feb 25	—	Sep 16 – Sep 30	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Sep 2 – Sep 16	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Sep 30 – Oct 7	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 4 – Mar 18	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Mar 4 – Mar 11	Sep 9 – Sep 16	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 4 – Feb 18	—	Mar 11 – Mar 18	Sep 2 – Sep 9	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 4 – Feb 18	—	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Sep 2 – Sep 16	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Mar 4 – Mar 18	—	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	—	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Aug 19 – Sep 2	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Sep 2 – Sep 16	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Feb 18 – Mar 4	—	Sep 30 – Oct 14	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Sep 2 – Sep 16	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Jan 14 – Jan 28	—	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	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 14 – Oct 28	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	—	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 8 – Apr 22	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	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.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Feb 11 – Feb 18	—	Apr 1 – Apr 8	—	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 4 – Mar 18	—	Sep 16 – Sep 30	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Jan 28 – Feb 11	—	Mar 11 – Mar 18	—	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 4 – Mar 18	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Jan 28 – Feb 11	—	Mar 25 – Apr 1	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Jan 28 – Feb 11	—	Mar 25 – Apr 1	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Feb 25 – Mar 4	Apr 1 – Apr 15	Apr 1 – Apr 8	—	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 11 – Feb 25	—	Apr 1 – Apr 8	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Feb 25 – Mar 4	Apr 1 – Apr 15	Apr 1 – Apr 8	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	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 Kinston, NC?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the KINSTON AG RSCH, NC US station, the last spring frost in Kinston typically falls around March 25. A cautious gardener might wait until April 7 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while March 9 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Kinston, NC in fall?

The first fall frost in Kinston typically arrives around November 11. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 29; in milder years it can hold off until December 2.

How long is the growing season in Kinston, NC?

Kinston's average frost-free growing season is about 232 days, running from the typical last spring frost (March 25) to the typical first fall frost (November 11).

What USDA hardiness zone is Kinston, NC in?

Kinston, NC is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.