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Planting Calendar for Elizabeth City, 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 11 (at ELIZABETH CITY, NC climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 23-Oct 28
Moon Sep 23-Oct 6, Oct 21-28
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 19-Sep 16
Moon Aug 19-22, Sep 8-16
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Sep 2-23
Moon Sep 2-7, Sep 21-23
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 12-19
Frost Sep 2-16
Moon Sep 2-7
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 22-Aug 5
Moon Jul 24-Aug 5
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 12-19
Frost Sep 2-9
Moon Sep 2-7
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 26-Sep 2
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Aug 5-12
Moon Aug 5-9
Frost Aug 19-26
Moon Aug 23-26
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 19-Sep 16
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 12-26
Moon Aug 23-26
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 25-Dec 9
Moon Dec 5-9
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 26-Sep 9
Moon Aug 26-Sep 7
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Sep 2-16
Moon Sep 2-7
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 9-30
Moon Sep 21-30
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Sep 2-16
Moon Sep 2-7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 9-30
Moon Sep 21-30
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Sep 2-16
Moon Sep 2-7
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 30-Oct 14
Moon Oct 7-14
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 23-Oct 14
Moon Sep 23-Oct 6
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Sep 2-16
Moon Sep 2-7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 9-23
Moon Sep 9-20
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 3 (at ELIZABETH CITY, NC climate station, elevation 6 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 5-12
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Oct 14
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 20-28
Apr 3
BasilFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
Sep 30
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 20-28
Frost Mar 5-13
Apr 17
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 29-Feb 5
Frost Apr 17-24
N/AAug 19
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Apr 17-24
Frost Apr 17-24
May 15
BroccoliFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Sep 9
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Aug 5
CabbageFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Apr 10
CantaloupesFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Aug 5
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 15-20
Sep 2
CauliflowerFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
N/AAug 26
CeleryFrost Jan 8-22
Moon Jan 8-13
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 3
Moon Apr 3
Sep 2
ChivesFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost Mar 13-20
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Mar 13-20
Moon Mar 13-14
Sep 16
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Apr 24
CollardsFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 13-20
Moon Mar 13-14
Sep 2
CucumbersFrost Mar 13-20
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 17-24
Sep 2
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 27-Apr 17
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Sep 16
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 17-24
Aug 5
EggplantsFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost Apr 17-24
N/ASep 2
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Apr 17
FennelFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Aug 26
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-May 1
Moon Apr 10-12, Apr 27-May 1
Sep 2
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 13-20
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Apr 17-24
Frost Apr 17-24
Aug 12
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 29-Feb 5
Frost Apr 17-24
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Apr 17
KohlrabiFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 13-20
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Apr 17
LeeksFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 29-Feb 5
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
N/AJul 29
LettuceFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 13-20
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Apr 17
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Apr 17-24
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
Sep 2
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 15-20
N/AAug 5
OreganoFrost Jan 22-Feb 19
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
N/ASep 2
ParsleyFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 29-Feb 5
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Mar 5-Apr 10
Moon Mar 5-14, Mar 29-Apr 10
Aug 26
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-13
Aug 5
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 24-26
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Apr 17
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 15-20
Sep 2
PumpkinsFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Apr 17-24
Frost Apr 17-24
Jul 29
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-13
Sep 16
RosemaryFrost Jan 8-22
Moon Jan 8-13
Frost Apr 17-24
N/ASep 16
SageFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
N/AAug 26
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 15-20
Aug 5
SpinachFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 13-20
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Apr 17
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
Aug 26
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-26
Jul 29
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 13-Apr 3
Moon Mar 13-14, Mar 29-Apr 3
Apr 17
ThymeFrost Jan 22-Feb 5
Moon Jan 29-Feb 5
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
N/AAug 19
TomatillosFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 27-May 1
N/AAug 26
TomatoesFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 5-12
Frost Apr 17-24
N/AAug 12
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-13
Oct 14
WatermelonsFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Apr 17-24
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Aug 12
Winter SquashFrost Mar 13-20
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 17-24
Jul 22
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 13-20
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 17-24
Sep 9
The Old Farmer's Store