When to plant tomatoes in North Carolina
Plant out in Charlotte
Apr 6–Apr 20
Across North Carolina the window opens between March 22 and April 23. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.
- Start indoors, Charlotte
- Feb 2–Feb 16
- Plant out, Charlotte
- Apr 6–Apr 20
- Last sowing for a harvest
- Jul 27
- Last frost, Charlotte
- Mar 30
Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.
Tomatoes planting dates by city
Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
CharlotteApr 6–Apr 20
RaleighApr 4–Apr 18
GreensboroApr 8–Apr 22
DurhamApr 9–Apr 23
Winston-SalemApr 2–Apr 16
FayettevilleApr 6–Apr 20
CaryApr 3–Apr 17
WilmingtonMar 26–Apr 9
High PointApr 6–Apr 20
ConcordApr 8–Apr 22
GreenvilleApr 3–Apr 17
AshevilleApr 13–Apr 27
GastoniaApr 3–Apr 17
ApexApr 3–Apr 17
JacksonvilleMar 30–Apr 13
HuntersvilleApr 6–Apr 20
Chapel HillApr 5–Apr 19
KannapolisApr 8–Apr 22
BurlingtonApr 5–Apr 19
Wake ForestApr 11–Apr 25
MooresvilleApr 16–Apr 30
Rocky MountApr 7–Apr 21
Holly SpringsApr 13–Apr 27
WilsonMar 29–Apr 12
Fuquay-VarinaApr 8–Apr 22
HickoryApr 7–Apr 21
Indian TrailApr 7–Apr 21
MonroeApr 10–Apr 24
GarnerApr 8–Apr 22
SalisburyApr 13–Apr 27
All 52 cities
| City | Start indoors | Plant out | Last frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Feb 2 to Feb 16 | Apr 6 to Apr 20 | Mar 30 |
| Raleigh | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Apr 4 to Apr 18 | Mar 28 |
| Greensboro | Feb 4 to Feb 18 | Apr 8 to Apr 22 | Apr 1 |
| Durham | Feb 5 to Feb 19 | Apr 9 to Apr 23 | Apr 2 |
| Winston-Salem | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Mar 26 |
| Fayetteville | Feb 2 to Feb 16 | Apr 6 to Apr 20 | Mar 30 |
| Cary | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Apr 3 to Apr 17 | Mar 27 |
| Wilmington | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Mar 19 |
| High Point | Feb 2 to Feb 16 | Apr 6 to Apr 20 | Mar 30 |
| Concord | Feb 4 to Feb 18 | Apr 8 to Apr 22 | Apr 1 |
| Greenville | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Apr 3 to Apr 17 | Mar 27 |
| Asheville | Feb 9 to Feb 23 | Apr 13 to Apr 27 | Apr 6 |
| Gastonia | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Apr 3 to Apr 17 | Mar 27 |
| Apex | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Apr 3 to Apr 17 | Mar 27 |
| Jacksonville | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Mar 23 |
| Huntersville | Feb 2 to Feb 16 | Apr 6 to Apr 20 | Mar 30 |
| Chapel Hill | Feb 1 to Feb 15 | Apr 5 to Apr 19 | Mar 29 |
| Kannapolis | Feb 4 to Feb 18 | Apr 8 to Apr 22 | Apr 1 |
| Burlington | Feb 1 to Feb 15 | Apr 5 to Apr 19 | Mar 29 |
| Wake Forest | Feb 7 to Feb 21 | Apr 11 to Apr 25 | Apr 4 |
| Mooresville | Feb 12 to Feb 26 | Apr 16 to Apr 30 | Apr 9 |
| Rocky Mount | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Holly Springs | Feb 9 to Feb 23 | Apr 13 to Apr 27 | Apr 6 |
| Wilson | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Mar 22 |
| Fuquay-Varina | Feb 4 to Feb 18 | Apr 8 to Apr 22 | Apr 1 |
| Hickory | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Indian Trail | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Monroe | Feb 6 to Feb 20 | Apr 10 to Apr 24 | Apr 3 |
| Garner | Feb 4 to Feb 18 | Apr 8 to Apr 22 | Apr 1 |
| Salisbury | Feb 9 to Feb 23 | Apr 13 to Apr 27 | Apr 6 |
| Leland | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Mar 19 |
| Cornelius | Feb 4 to Feb 18 | Apr 8 to Apr 22 | Apr 1 |
| Goldsboro | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Mar 15 |
| New Bern | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Mar 23 |
| Sanford | Feb 13 to Feb 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Apr 10 |
| Matthews | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Clayton | Feb 10 to Feb 24 | Apr 14 to Apr 28 | Apr 7 |
| Morrisville | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Statesville | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Mint Hill | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Kernersville | Feb 2 to Feb 16 | Apr 6 to Apr 20 | Mar 30 |
| Asheboro | Feb 8 to Feb 22 | Apr 12 to Apr 26 | Apr 5 |
| Thomasville | Feb 2 to Feb 16 | Apr 6 to Apr 20 | Mar 30 |
| Shelby | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Apr 12 |
| Knightdale | Feb 10 to Feb 24 | Apr 14 to Apr 28 | Apr 7 |
| Waxhaw | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Clemmons | Feb 12 to Feb 26 | Apr 16 to Apr 30 | Apr 9 |
| Mebane | Feb 7 to Feb 21 | Apr 11 to Apr 25 | Apr 4 |
| Carrboro | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Harrisburg | Feb 4 to Feb 18 | Apr 8 to Apr 22 | Apr 1 |
| Lexington | Feb 14 to Feb 28 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Apr 11 |
| Graham | Feb 7 to Feb 21 | Apr 11 to Apr 25 | Apr 4 |
Questions
When should I plant tomatoes in North Carolina?
In Charlotte, plant out from April 6 to April 20. Across North Carolina the window opens between March 22 and April 23, depending on the local last frost.
How is this date worked out?
Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.
More for North Carolina
Potatoes
Tulip bulbs
Garlic
Pumpkins
Strawberries
Onions
Carrots
Sunflowers
Cucumbers
Daffodil bulbs
Corn
Sweet potatoes
Asparagus
Watermelon
Lettuce
Green beans
Tomatoes in other states
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- Kentucky
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- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
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- South Carolina
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