When to plant peppers in North Carolina

Plant out in Charlotte

Apr 13–Apr 27

Across North Carolina the window opens between March 29 and April 30. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Charlotte: Jan 19–Feb 2
Plant out, Charlotte: Apr 13–Apr 27
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 22
Last frost, Charlotte: Mar 30

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Peppers germinate slowly. A heat mat under the seed tray speeds them up.

Peppers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

CharlotteApr 13–Apr 27

RaleighApr 11–Apr 25

GreensboroApr 15–Apr 29

DurhamApr 16–Apr 30

Winston-SalemApr 9–Apr 23

FayettevilleApr 13–Apr 27

CaryApr 10–Apr 24

WilmingtonApr 2–Apr 16

High PointApr 13–Apr 27

ConcordApr 15–Apr 29

GreenvilleApr 10–Apr 24

AshevilleApr 20–May 4

GastoniaApr 10–Apr 24

ApexApr 10–Apr 24

JacksonvilleApr 6–Apr 20

HuntersvilleApr 13–Apr 27

Chapel HillApr 12–Apr 26

KannapolisApr 15–Apr 29

BurlingtonApr 12–Apr 26

Wake ForestApr 18–May 2

MooresvilleApr 23–May 7

Rocky MountApr 14–Apr 28

Holly SpringsApr 20–May 4

WilsonApr 5–Apr 19

Fuquay-VarinaApr 15–Apr 29

HickoryApr 14–Apr 28

Indian TrailApr 14–Apr 28

MonroeApr 17–May 1

GarnerApr 15–Apr 29

SalisburyApr 20–May 4

All 52 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Charlotte	Jan 19 to Feb 2	Apr 13 to Apr 27	Mar 30
Raleigh	Jan 17 to Jan 31	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Mar 28
Greensboro	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Durham	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Apr 2
Winston-Salem	Jan 15 to Jan 29	Apr 9 to Apr 23	Mar 26
Fayetteville	Jan 19 to Feb 2	Apr 13 to Apr 27	Mar 30
Cary	Jan 16 to Jan 30	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Mar 27
Wilmington	Jan 8 to Jan 22	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Mar 19
High Point	Jan 19 to Feb 2	Apr 13 to Apr 27	Mar 30
Concord	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Greenville	Jan 16 to Jan 30	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Mar 27
Asheville	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Apr 20 to May 4	Apr 6
Gastonia	Jan 16 to Jan 30	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Mar 27
Apex	Jan 16 to Jan 30	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Mar 27
Jacksonville	Jan 12 to Jan 26	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 23
Huntersville	Jan 19 to Feb 2	Apr 13 to Apr 27	Mar 30
Chapel Hill	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Mar 29
Kannapolis	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Burlington	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Mar 29
Wake Forest	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 4
Mooresville	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 9
Rocky Mount	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Holly Springs	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Apr 20 to May 4	Apr 6
Wilson	Jan 11 to Jan 25	Apr 5 to Apr 19	Mar 22
Fuquay-Varina	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Hickory	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Indian Trail	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Monroe	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Garner	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Salisbury	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Apr 20 to May 4	Apr 6
Leland	Jan 8 to Jan 22	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Mar 19
Cornelius	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Goldsboro	Jan 4 to Jan 18	Mar 29 to Apr 12	Mar 15
New Bern	Jan 12 to Jan 26	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 23
Sanford	Jan 30 to Feb 13	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 10
Matthews	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Clayton	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Apr 21 to May 5	Apr 7
Morrisville	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Statesville	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Mint Hill	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Kernersville	Jan 19 to Feb 2	Apr 13 to Apr 27	Mar 30
Asheboro	Jan 25 to Feb 8	Apr 19 to May 3	Apr 5
Thomasville	Jan 19 to Feb 2	Apr 13 to Apr 27	Mar 30
Shelby	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
Knightdale	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Apr 21 to May 5	Apr 7
Waxhaw	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Clemmons	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 9
Mebane	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 4
Carrboro	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Harrisburg	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Lexington	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 11
Graham	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 4

Questions

When should I plant peppers in North Carolina?

In Charlotte, plant out from April 13 to April 27. Across North Carolina the window opens between March 29 and April 30, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for North Carolina

Peppers in other states

Frost dates for every city in North Carolina