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Planting Calendar for Rocky Mount, 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 2 (at ROCKY MT 8 ESE, NC climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 14-Oct 19
Moon Sep 21-Oct 6
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 10-Sep 7
Moon Aug 10-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 24-Sep 14
Moon Aug 24-Sep 7
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 3-10
Moon Aug 3-9
Frost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 24-Sep 7
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 13-27
Moon Jul 24-27
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 3-10
Moon Aug 3-9
Frost Aug 24-31
Moon Aug 24-31
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 17-24
Moon Aug 17-22
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 27-Aug 3
Moon Jul 27-Aug 3
Frost Aug 10-17
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 10-Sep 7
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 3-17
Moon Aug 3-9
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 15-29
Moon Nov 15-19
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 17-31
Moon Aug 23-31
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 24-Sep 7
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 31-Sep 21
Moon Aug 31-Sep 7, Sep 21
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 24-Sep 7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 31-Sep 21
Moon Aug 31-Sep 7, Sep 21
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 24-Sep 7
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 21-Oct 5
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 14-Oct 5
Moon Sep 21-Oct 5
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 24-Sep 7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 31-Sep 14
Moon Sep 8-14
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 4 (at ROCKY MT 8 ESE, NC climate station, elevation 111 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 6-20
Moon Feb 6-12
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14
Frost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Oct 5
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-28
Apr 4
BasilFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 27-May 2
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 27-May 2
Sep 21
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-28
Frost Mar 6-14
Apr 18
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 23-Feb 6
Moon Jan 29-Feb 6
Frost Apr 18-25
N/AAug 10
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Apr 18-25
Frost Apr 18-25
May 16
BroccoliFrost Feb 6-20
Moon Feb 6-12
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 29-Apr 4
Frost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Aug 31
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 29-Apr 4
Frost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Jul 27
CabbageFrost Feb 6-20
Moon Feb 6-12
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 29-Apr 4
Frost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Apr 11
CantaloupesFrost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14
Frost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 4-12
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-12
Jul 27
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-21
Moon Mar 15-21
Aug 24
CauliflowerFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Mar 28-Apr 11
Moon Mar 29-Apr 11
N/AAug 17
CeleryFrost Jan 9-23
Moon Jan 9-13
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-12
Frost Apr 4
Moon Apr 4
Aug 24
ChivesFrost Feb 6-20
Moon Feb 6-12
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14
Sep 7
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 4-12
Apr 25
CollardsFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 29-Apr 4
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14
Aug 24
CucumbersFrost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-12
Frost Apr 18-25
Aug 24
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 28-Apr 18
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Sep 7
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 18-25
Jul 27
EggplantsFrost Feb 6-20
Moon Feb 6-12
Frost Apr 18-25
N/AAug 24
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Apr 18
FennelFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-12
Frost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 4-12
Aug 17
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 11-May 2
Moon Apr 11-12, Apr 27-May 2
Aug 24
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14
Frost Apr 18-25
Frost Apr 18-25
Aug 3
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 23-Feb 6
Moon Jan 29-Feb 6
Frost Apr 18-25
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 6-20
Moon Feb 6-12
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 29-Apr 4
Frost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Apr 18
KohlrabiFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14
Frost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Apr 18
LeeksFrost Jan 23-Feb 6
Moon Jan 29-Feb 6
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14
N/AJul 20
LettuceFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14
Frost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Apr 18
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 6-21
Moon Mar 6-14
Frost Apr 18-25
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 27-May 2
Aug 24
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 6-21
Moon Mar 15-21
N/AJul 27
OreganoFrost Jan 23-Feb 20
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-12
N/AAug 24
ParsleyFrost Jan 23-Feb 6
Moon Jan 29-Feb 6
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-12
Frost Mar 6-Apr 11
Moon Mar 6-14, Mar 29-Apr 11
Aug 17
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-14
Jul 27
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 25-May 9
Moon Apr 25-26
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Apr 18
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-21
Moon Mar 15-21
Aug 24
PumpkinsFrost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14
Frost Apr 18-25
Frost Apr 18-25
Jul 20
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-14
Sep 7
RosemaryFrost Jan 9-23
Moon Jan 9-13
Frost Apr 18-25
N/ASep 7
SageFrost Feb 6-20
Moon Feb 6-12
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-12
N/AAug 17
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-21
Moon Mar 15-21
Jul 27
SpinachFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14
Frost Mar 6-14
Moon Mar 6-14
Apr 18
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 27-May 2
Aug 17
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-26
Jul 20
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 29-Apr 4
Frost Mar 14-Apr 4
Moon Mar 14, Mar 29-Apr 4
Apr 18
ThymeFrost Jan 23-Feb 6
Moon Jan 29-Feb 6
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-12
N/AAug 10
TomatillosFrost Feb 20-Mar 6
Moon Feb 27-Mar 6
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 27-May 2
N/AAug 17
TomatoesFrost Feb 6-20
Moon Feb 6-12
Frost Apr 18-25
N/AAug 3
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 6-14
Oct 5
WatermelonsFrost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14
Frost Apr 18-25
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-12
Aug 3
Winter SquashFrost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-12
Frost Apr 18-25
Jul 13
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-12
Frost Apr 18-25
Aug 31
The Old Farmer's Store