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Planting Calendar for Clayton, 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 30 (at CLAYTON WTP, NC climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 11-Oct 16
Moon Sep 21-Oct 6
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 7-Sep 4
Moon Aug 10-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 21-Sep 11
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 31-Aug 7
Moon Jul 31-Aug 7
Frost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 23-Sep 4
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 10-24
Moon Jul 10
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 31-Aug 7
Moon Jul 31-Aug 7
Frost Aug 21-28
Moon Aug 23-28
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 14-21
Moon Aug 14-21
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 24-31
Moon Jul 24-31
Frost Aug 7-14
Moon Aug 7-9
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 7-Sep 4
Moon Aug 7-9, Aug 23-Sep 4
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 31-Aug 14
Moon Jul 31-Aug 9
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 12-26
Moon Nov 12-19
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 14-28
Moon Aug 23-28
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 23-Sep 4
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 28-Sep 18
Moon Aug 28-Sep 7
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 23-Sep 4
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 28-Sep 18
Moon Aug 28-Sep 7
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 23-Sep 4
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 18-Oct 2
Moon Sep 18-20
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 11-Oct 2
Moon Sep 21-Oct 2
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 23-Sep 4
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Sep 8-11
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 13 (at CLAYTON WTP, NC climate station, elevation 298 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 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 29-Apr 6
Frost Mar 16-23
Oct 2
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 13
Apr 13
BasilFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Sep 18
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 13
Frost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Apr 27
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
N/AAug 7
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
May 25
BroccoliFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Mar 16-23
Aug 28
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Mar 16-23
Jul 24
CabbageFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Mar 16-23
Apr 20
CantaloupesFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 29-Apr 6
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Jul 24
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-28
Aug 21
CauliflowerFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
N/AAug 14
CeleryFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 29-Feb 1
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 13
Aug 21
ChivesFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Sep 4
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
May 4
CollardsFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Aug 21
CucumbersFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Aug 21
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-27
Moon Apr 6-12, Apr 27
Sep 4
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Jul 24
EggplantsFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
N/AAug 21
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 16-23
Apr 27
FennelFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Aug 14
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Aug 21
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Jul 31
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Mar 16-23
Apr 27
KohlrabiFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Mar 16-23
Apr 27
LeeksFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 29-Apr 6
N/AJul 17
LettuceFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Mar 16-23
Apr 27
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Aug 21
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-28
N/AJul 24
OreganoFrost Feb 1-Mar 1
Moon Feb 1-12, Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
N/AAug 21
ParsleyFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Mar 16-Apr 20
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Aug 14
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Jul 24
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost May 4-18
Moon May 13-18
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 16-23
Apr 27
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-28
Aug 21
PumpkinsFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 29-Apr 6
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Jul 17
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Sep 4
RosemaryFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 29-Feb 1
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
N/ASep 4
SageFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
N/AAug 14
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-28
Jul 24
SpinachFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Mar 16-23
Apr 27
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
Aug 14
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 27-May 11
Jul 17
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Mar 23-Apr 13
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Apr 27
ThymeFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
N/AAug 7
TomatillosFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 11
N/AAug 14
TomatoesFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
N/AJul 31
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Oct 2
WatermelonsFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 29-Apr 6
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 27
Jul 31
Winter SquashFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Jul 10
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Moon Apr 27-May 4
Aug 28
The Old Farmer's Store