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Planting Calendar for Black Mountain, 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 October 16 (at BLACK MTN 2 W, NC climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 28-Oct 2
Moon Aug 28-Sep 7, Sep 21-Oct 2
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 24-Aug 21
Moon Aug 10-21
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 7-28
Moon Aug 7-9, Aug 23-28
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 17-24
Moon Jul 24
Frost Aug 7-21
Moon Aug 7-9
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 26-Jul 10
Moon Jun 26-Jul 10
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 17-24
Moon Jul 24
Frost Aug 7-14
Moon Aug 7-9
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 31-Aug 7
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 10-17
Moon Jul 10
Frost Jul 24-31
Moon Jul 24-31
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 24-Aug 21
Moon Jul 24-Aug 9
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 17-31
Moon Jul 24-31
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 30-Nov 12
Moon Nov 6-12
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 31-Aug 14
Moon Jul 31-Aug 9
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 7-21
Moon Aug 7-9
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 14-Sep 4
Moon Aug 23-Sep 4
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 7-21
Moon Aug 7-9
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 14-Sep 4
Moon Aug 23-Sep 4
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 7-21
Moon Aug 7-9
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 4-18
Moon Sep 8-18
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 28-Sep 18
Moon Aug 28-Sep 7
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 7-21
Moon Aug 7-9
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 14-28
Moon Aug 14-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 27 (at BLACK MTN 2 W, NC climate station, elevation 2290 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Sep 18
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-26
Apr 27
BasilFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 11-12
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 11-12
Sep 4
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-26
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
May 11
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
N/AJul 24
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Jun 8
BroccoliFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Aug 14
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
Jul 10
CabbageFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
May 4
CantaloupesFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Jul 10
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 13
Aug 7
CauliflowerFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
N/AJul 31
CeleryFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
Frost Apr 27
Moon Apr 27
Aug 7
ChivesFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Aug 21
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
May 18
CollardsFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Aug 7
CucumbersFrost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Aug 7
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Aug 21
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Jul 10
EggplantsFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
N/AAug 7
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
May 11
FennelFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Jul 31
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 4-25
Moon May 4-12
Aug 7
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Jul 17
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
May 11
KohlrabiFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
May 11
LeeksFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
N/AJul 3
LettuceFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
May 11
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 11-12
Aug 7
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 13
N/AJul 10
OreganoFrost Feb 15-Mar 16
Moon Feb 27-Mar 14
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
N/AAug 7
ParsleyFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
Frost Mar 30-May 4
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12, Apr 27-May 4
Jul 31
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Jul 10
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 18-25
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
May 11
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 13
Aug 7
PumpkinsFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Jul 3
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Aug 21
RosemaryFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
N/AAug 21
SageFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
N/AJul 31
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 13
Jul 10
SpinachFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Moon Mar 30-Apr 6
May 11
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 11-25
Moon May 11-12
Jul 31
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 11-25
Moon May 13-25
Jul 3
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Apr 6-27
Moon Apr 6-12, Apr 27
May 11
ThymeFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
N/AJul 24
TomatillosFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 11-12
N/AJul 31
TomatoesFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
N/AJul 17
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Sep 18
WatermelonsFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 4-11
Jul 17
Winter SquashFrost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Jun 26
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 4-12
Frost May 11-18
Moon May 11-12
Aug 14
The Old Farmer's Store