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Planting Calendar for New Bern, 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 8 (at NEW BERN CRAVEN CO AP, NC climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 20-Oct 25
Moon Sep 21-Oct 6
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 16-Sep 13
Moon Aug 16-22, Sep 8-13
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 30-Sep 20
Moon Aug 30-Sep 7
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 9-16
Moon Aug 9
Frost Aug 30-Sep 13
Moon Aug 30-Sep 7
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 19-Aug 2
Moon Jul 24-Aug 2
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 9-16
Moon Aug 9
Frost Aug 30-Sep 6
Moon Aug 30-Sep 6
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 23-30
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Aug 2-9
Moon Aug 2-9
Frost Aug 16-23
Moon Aug 23
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 16-Sep 13
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 9-23
Moon Aug 9
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 22-Dec 6
Moon Dec 5-6
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 23-Sep 6
Moon Aug 23-Sep 6
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 30-Sep 13
Moon Aug 30-Sep 7
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 6-27
Moon Sep 6-7, Sep 21-27
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 30-Sep 13
Moon Aug 30-Sep 7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 6-27
Moon Sep 6-7, Sep 21-27
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 30-Sep 13
Moon Aug 30-Sep 7
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 27-Oct 11
Moon Oct 7-11
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 20-Oct 11
Moon Sep 21-Oct 6
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 30-Sep 13
Moon Aug 30-Sep 7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 6-20
Moon Sep 8-20
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 30 (at NEW BERN CRAVEN CO AP, NC climate station, elevation 19 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 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Mar 1-8
Moon Mar 1-8
Oct 11
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-28
Mar 30
BasilFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Sep 27
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-28
Frost Mar 1-8
Apr 13
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 29-Feb 1
Frost Apr 13-20
N/AAug 16
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Apr 13-20
Frost Apr 13-20
May 11
BroccoliFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Mar 1-8
Moon Mar 1-8
Sep 6
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Mar 1-8
Moon Mar 1-8
Aug 2
CabbageFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Mar 1-8
Moon Mar 1-8
Apr 6
CantaloupesFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Aug 2
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 15-16
Aug 30
CauliflowerFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 29-Apr 6
N/AAug 23
CeleryFrost Jan 4-18
Moon Jan 4-13
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 30
Moon Mar 30
Aug 30
ChivesFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-14
Sep 13
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Apr 20
CollardsFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-14
Aug 30
CucumbersFrost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Apr 13-20
Aug 30
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 13
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Sep 13
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-20
Aug 2
EggplantsFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Apr 13-20
N/AAug 30
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 1-8
Moon Mar 1-8
Apr 13
FennelFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Mar 30-Apr 12
Aug 23
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-27
Moon Apr 6-12, Apr 27
Aug 30
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 13-20
Frost Apr 13-20
Aug 9
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 29-Feb 1
Frost Apr 13-20
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Mar 1-8
Moon Mar 1-8
Apr 13
KohlrabiFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Mar 1-8
Moon Mar 1-8
Apr 13
LeeksFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 29-Feb 1
Frost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
N/AJul 26
LettuceFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Mar 1-8
Moon Mar 1-8
Apr 13
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 1-14
Frost Apr 13-20
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Aug 30
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 15-16
N/AAug 2
OreganoFrost Jan 18-Feb 15
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
N/AAug 30
ParsleyFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 29-Feb 1
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Mar 1-Apr 6
Moon Mar 1-14, Mar 29-Apr 6
Aug 23
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 1-8
Aug 2
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-26
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 1-8
Moon Mar 1-8
Apr 13
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 15-16
Aug 30
PumpkinsFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 13-20
Frost Apr 13-20
Jul 26
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 1-8
Sep 13
RosemaryFrost Jan 4-18
Moon Jan 4-13
Frost Apr 13-20
N/ASep 13
SageFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
N/AAug 23
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 1-16
Moon Mar 15-16
Aug 2
SpinachFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Mar 1-8
Moon Mar 1-8
Apr 13
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
Aug 23
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-26
Jul 26
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 29-30
Frost Mar 8-30
Moon Mar 8-14, Mar 29-30
Apr 13
ThymeFrost Jan 18-Feb 1
Moon Jan 29-Feb 1
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
N/AAug 16
TomatillosFrost Feb 15-Mar 1
Moon Feb 27-Mar 1
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 27
N/AAug 23
TomatoesFrost Feb 1-15
Moon Feb 1-12
Frost Apr 13-20
N/AAug 9
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 1-8
Oct 11
WatermelonsFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 13-20
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 6-12
Aug 9
Winter SquashFrost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Apr 13-20
Jul 19
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-14
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-12
Frost Apr 13-20
Sep 6
The Old Farmer's Store