Frost dates for Aurora, NC
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
March 8
typical year
Safe to plant
March 28
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
December 5
typical year
Growing season
272 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Feb 8 – 22 | – |
| Spinach | – | Jan 25 – Feb 15 | Oct 10 – 24 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 8 – Mar 1 | Oct 10 – 24 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 8 – Mar 22 | Oct 24 – Nov 7 |
| Onions | – | Feb 8 – 22 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 15 – Mar 8 | Sep 12 – 26 |
| Beets | – | Feb 8 – 22 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Kale | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Feb 8 – 22 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Broccoli | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Cabbage | Dec 14 – 28 | Feb 8 – 22 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 24 – Nov 14 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 4 – 18 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 28 – Apr 18 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 28 – Apr 25 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 28 – Apr 18 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 28 – Sep 26 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 28 – Apr 25 | – |
| Basil | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 4 – 11 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | March 28 | March 8 | February 12 |
| Fall frost before | November 16 | December 5 | December 30 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around February 19 (March 15 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 25.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 2 towns.
Aurora, Bath
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station AURORA 6 N, NC US (USC00310375), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 6 zip codes, all within 15 miles:
27806, 27808, 27814, 27821, 28537, 28552
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.