🌱 GrowGuide Almanac
HomeNorth Carolina › Greensboro

Greensboro, NC Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 8a · ZIP 27401 · elevation 233′ · NOAA & USDA data

Greensboro is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (winters can dip to 10 to 15°F), with a growing season of about 217 days between the average last spring frost (April 1) and first fall frost (November 4). The warmest month is July (avg high 88.6°F); the coldest is January (avg low 29.8°F). It averages 45.9″ of precipitation a year. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone
8a
min temp 10 to 15°F
Last spring frost
April 1
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
First fall frost
November 4
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
Growing season
217 days
frost-free window
Warmest month
July
avg high 88.6°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Greensboro

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Greensboro Wtp, NC (2.2 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

MonthAvg highAvg lowMeanPrecip (in)Snow (in)
January 50 29.8 39.9 3.2
February 54.2 32.7 43.5 2.6
March 61.9 39.3 50.6 3.7
April 71.4 48.2 59.8 3.6
May 79 57.5 68.3 3.3
June 85.1 65 75.1 5.1
July 88.6 70.5 79.5 5.8
August 86.5 68.2 77.4 4.5
September 80.6 61.2 70.9 4.4
October 71.4 49.1 60.3 3.2
November 60.5 38.8 49.7 3.1
December 52.5 32.8 42.6 3.4

What to plant when in Greensboro

CropSeasonWhat to do & when
TomatoeswarmStart seeds indoors: February 18 · Transplant out: April 8
PepperswarmStart seeds indoors: February 4 · Transplant out: April 15
CucumberswarmDirect sow: April 8
Zucchini / squashwarmDirect sow: April 8
Bush beanswarmDirect sow: April 8
Sweet cornwarmDirect sow: April 8
BasilwarmTransplant out: April 8
PeascoolSow (spring): February 25 · Sow (fall): September 9
SpinachcoolSow (spring): February 18 · Sow (fall): September 9
LettucecoolSow (spring): March 4 · Sow (fall): September 9
KalecoolTransplant (spring): March 11 · Sow (fall): August 26
BroccolicoolTransplant (spring): March 18
CarrotscoolSow (spring): March 11 · Sow (fall): August 26
OnionscoolTransplant (spring): March 4
PotatoescoolPlant seed potatoes: March 18
RadishescoolSow (spring): March 4 · Sow (fall): September 23

Dates are computed from Greensboro's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

Want the exact dates for your yard? →
Look up your precise ZIP-code frost dates and a full 26-crop planting calendar on our free interactive tool.
Open the frost & planting tool

🌾 Get a frost reminder

One email in early spring and early fall with the dates for your area. No spam.

Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in North Carolina

Burlington, NCHigh Point, NCChapel Hill, NCDurham, NCApex, NCCary, NCConcord, NCKannapolis, NC

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Greensboro Wtp, NC, 2.2 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Greensboro Wtp, NC, 2.2 mi (confidence: high). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.