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Planting Calendar for Shelby, 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 19 (at SHELBY 2 NW, NC climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 31-Oct 5
Moon Aug 31-Sep 7, Sep 21-Oct 5
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 27-Aug 24
Moon Aug 10-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 10-31
Moon Aug 23-31
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 20-27
Moon Jul 24-27
Frost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 23-24
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 29-Jul 13
Moon Jun 29-Jul 10
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 20-27
Moon Jul 24-27
Frost Aug 10-17
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 3-10
Moon Aug 10
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 13-20
Frost Jul 27-Aug 3
Moon Jul 27-Aug 3
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 27-Aug 24
Moon Jul 27-Aug 9, Aug 23-24
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 20-Aug 3
Moon Jul 24-Aug 3
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 2-15
Moon Nov 6-15
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 3-17
Moon Aug 3-9
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 23-24
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 17-Sep 7
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 23-24
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 17-Sep 7
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 23-24
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 7-21
Moon Sep 8-20
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 31-Sep 21
Moon Aug 31-Sep 7, Sep 21
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 23-24
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 17-31
Moon Aug 17-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 19 (at SHELBY 2 NW, NC climate station, elevation 820 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 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 27-Mar 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Frost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 29
Sep 21
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 13-19
Apr 19
BasilFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
Sep 7
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 13-19
Frost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 22-28
May 3
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
N/AJul 27
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
May 31
BroccoliFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 27-Mar 7
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 29
Aug 17
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 29
Jul 13
CabbageFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 27-Mar 7
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 29
Apr 26
CantaloupesFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 27-May 3
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 27-May 3
Jul 13
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-28
Aug 10
CauliflowerFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12
N/AAug 3
CeleryFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
Frost Apr 19
Aug 10
ChivesFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 27-Mar 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Aug 24
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 27-May 3
May 10
CollardsFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Aug 10
CucumbersFrost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Aug 10
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 12-May 3
Moon Apr 12, Apr 27-May 3
Aug 24
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Jul 13
EggplantsFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 27-Mar 7
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
N/AAug 10
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 29
May 3
FennelFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 27-May 3
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 27-May 3
Aug 3
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 17
Moon Apr 27-May 12
Aug 10
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Jul 20
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 27-Mar 7
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 29
May 3
KohlrabiFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 29
May 3
LeeksFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
N/AJul 6
LettuceFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 29
May 3
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
Aug 10
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-28
N/AJul 13
OreganoFrost Feb 7-Mar 7
Moon Feb 7-12, Feb 27-Mar 7
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
N/AAug 10
ParsleyFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
Frost Mar 22-Apr 26
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Aug 3
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 22-28
Jul 13
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost May 10-24
Moon May 13-24
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 29
May 3
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-28
Aug 10
PumpkinsFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Jul 6
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 22-28
Aug 24
RosemaryFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
N/AAug 24
SageFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 27-Mar 7
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
N/AAug 3
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-28
Jul 13
SpinachFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 29
May 3
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
Aug 3
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 3-17
Moon May 13-17
Jul 6
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 19
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
May 3
ThymeFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 27-May 3
N/AJul 27
TomatillosFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
N/AAug 3
TomatoesFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 27-Mar 7
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
N/AJul 20
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 22-29
Moon Mar 22-28
Sep 21
WatermelonsFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Frost Apr 26-May 3
Moon Apr 27-May 3
Jul 20
Winter SquashFrost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Jun 29
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Aug 17
The Old Farmer's Store