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Planting Calendar for Morehead 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 14 (at MOREHEAD CITY 2 WNW, NC climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 26-Oct 31
Moon Sep 26-Oct 6, Oct 21-31
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 22-Sep 19
Moon Aug 22, Sep 8-19
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Sep 5-26
Moon Sep 5-7, Sep 21-26
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 15-22
Frost Sep 5-19
Moon Sep 5-7
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Jul 25-Aug 8
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 15-22
Frost Sep 5-12
Moon Sep 5-7
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 29-Sep 5
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Aug 8-15
Moon Aug 8-9
Frost Aug 22-29
Moon Aug 23-29
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 22-Sep 19
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 15-29
Moon Aug 23-29
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 28-Dec 12
Moon Dec 5-12
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 29-Sep 12
Moon Aug 29-Sep 7
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Sep 5-19
Moon Sep 5-7
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 12-Oct 3
Moon Sep 21-Oct 3
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Sep 5-19
Moon Sep 5-7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 12-Oct 3
Moon Sep 21-Oct 3
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Sep 5-19
Moon Sep 5-7
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Oct 3-17
Moon Oct 7-17
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 26-Oct 17
Moon Sep 26-Oct 6
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Sep 5-19
Moon Sep 5-7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 12-26
Moon Sep 12-20
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 27 (at MOREHEAD CITY 2 WNW, NC climate station, elevation 9 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Oct 17
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 15-27
Mar 27
BasilFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
Oct 3
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 15-27
Frost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 26
Apr 10
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
N/AAug 22
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
May 8
BroccoliFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Sep 12
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Aug 8
CabbageFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Apr 3
CantaloupesFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Frost Apr 3-10
Moon Apr 3-10
Aug 8
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 26
Sep 5
CauliflowerFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
N/AAug 29
CeleryFrost Jan 1-15
Moon Jan 1-13
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Mar 27
Sep 5
ChivesFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Sep 19
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Apr 17
CollardsFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Sep 5
CucumbersFrost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Sep 5
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Sep 19
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Aug 8
EggplantsFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
N/ASep 5
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Apr 10
FennelFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Apr 3-10
Moon Apr 3-10
Frost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Aug 29
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 3-24
Moon Apr 3-12
Sep 5
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Aug 15
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
N/A
KaleFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Apr 10
KohlrabiFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Frost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Apr 10
LeeksFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
N/AAug 1
LettuceFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Frost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Apr 10
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
Sep 5
OnionsN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 26
N/AAug 8
OreganoFrost Jan 15-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
N/ASep 5
ParsleyFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Feb 26-Apr 3
Moon Feb 27-Mar 14
Aug 29
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 26
Aug 8
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-26
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Apr 10
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 26
Sep 5
PumpkinsFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Aug 1
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 26
Sep 19
RosemaryFrost Jan 1-15
Moon Jan 1-13
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
N/ASep 19
SageFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
N/AAug 29
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 26
Aug 8
SpinachFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Frost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Apr 10
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
Aug 29
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 13-24
Aug 1
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Mar 5-27
Moon Mar 5-14
Apr 10
ThymeFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Apr 3-10
Moon Apr 3-10
N/AAug 22
TomatillosFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-12
N/AAug 29
TomatoesFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
N/AAug 15
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 5
Moon Feb 26
Oct 17
WatermelonsFrost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Frost Apr 3-10
Moon Apr 3-10
Aug 15
Winter SquashFrost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Jul 25
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 5-13
Moon Mar 5-13
Frost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 3-12
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-12
Sep 12
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