Planting Date FinderZone, frost date, planting window

Planting calendar for Hickory, NC

Direct answer. In Hickory, NC, the median last 32°F date at HICKORY FAA AP, NC US (USW00003810) is March 31, and the median first 32°F date is November 4. The station is 3.5 miles from the city point. Crop windows come from NC State Extension. Where that guide counts weeks from a frost date and does not name a 10%, 50%, or 90% level, those weeks are applied to these median dates.

Median last 32°F March 31. Median first 32°F November 4. Frost dates for Hickory.

A wall calendar surrounded by vegetables, herbs, seed packets, and watering cans.
Median last 32°F is March 31. Median first 32°F is November 4. The 50% growing-season length is 219 days. The green band runs from the median last frost to the median first frost. Thin ticks mark the 10%, 50%, and 90% dates.

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Last 32°F in spring

NCEI’s probability is the chance the last spring minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or after the date.

ProbabilityDateHow to read it
90%March 13Earlier date. A last 32°F on or after this day is common.
50%March 31Median.
10%April 16Later date. A last 32°F on or after this day is uncommon.

First 32°F in fall

NCEI’s probability is the chance the first autumn minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or before the date.

ProbabilityDateHow to read it
10%October 22Earlier date. A first 32°F on or before this day is uncommon.
50%November 4Median.
90%November 18Later date. A first 32°F on or before this day is common.

32°F growing-season length

Days between the last spring 32°F and the first autumn 32°F. The figure is a length the season meets or exceeds at that probability, from NCEI, not a subtraction done on this site.

Probability the season is at least this longDays
10%241
50%219
90%198

28°F threshold

10%50%90%
Last, on or afterApril 3March 18February 26
First, on or beforeNovember 1November 15December 5
Season at least269 days242 days221 days

36°F threshold

10%50%90%
Last, on or afterApril 29April 13March 29
First, on or beforeOctober 13October 26November 6
Season at least215 days196 days175 days

Station HICKORY FAA AP, NC US (USW00003810). Completeness flag S, 29 years used for the 32°F dates. NCEI’s annual probability of at least one day at or below 32°F is 100%. Freeze dates are conditional on that threshold occurring. Elevation 348.4 m. The same probability language applies to the 28°F and 36°F rows when those dates passed the same quality checks.

Questions

Which frost date do the crop weeks use?
Weeks after the frost-free date use the median last 32°F date, March 31, when the guide does not name a probability. Weeks before the first freeze use the median first 32°F date, November 4. Both medians are 50% dates in the NOAA 1991–2020 normals for the station on this page. The page says when that anchor was used.
Where do the crop dates come from?
Crop dates come from the extension guide cited on this page, not from a second calendar invented here. The publisher and the title are printed with the source note. A month without a day is expanded to the first and last day of that month, and the page says so. A phrase without two dates stays a phrase.
Is this planting calendar a forecast?
No. The frost dates are 1991–2020 climate normals at the station 3.5 miles from the city point. The crop windows are the cited guide’s ranges, shifted only when that guide itself used weeks. A cold spring can still fall past the median. The National Weather Service forecast covers a particular night. This page does not.

Crops in the cited guide

SowBush beansEasternMar 15–Jun 1 · Aug 1–Oct 1CentralMar 15–Sep 15WesternMay 1–Jul 150–55 days to harvestSowBeetsEasternMar 1–Apr 1 · Jul 15–Sep 1CentralMar 1–Apr 1 · Jul 15–Sep 1WesternApr 1–May 1 · Jul 1–Jul 1555–60 days to harvestSowBroccoliEasternFeb 15–Apr 1 · Aug 1–Sep 1CentralFeb 15–Apr 1 · Aug 1–Sep 1WesternApr 15–May 15 · Jul 15–Aug 1T = 70–80 days to harvestSowCabbageEasternFeb 1–Apr 1 · Jul 15–Sep 1CentralFeb 1–Apr 1 · Jul 15–Sep 1WesternMar 1–Apr 1 · Jul 1–Aug 1T = 63–75 S = 90–120** days to harvestSowCarrotsEasternFeb 1–Mar 15 · Jun 15–Sep 1CentralFeb 1–Mar 15 · Jun 15–Sep 1WesternMar 1–May 15 · Jul 15–Aug 175–80 days to harvestSowSwiss chardEasternMar 1–Apr 15 · Aug 1–Sep 1CentralMar 1–Apr 15 · Aug 1–Sep 1WesternMar 15–Apr 15T = 32–42 S = 60–70 days to harvestSowCollardsEasternFeb 15–Jun 15 · Jul 15–Sep 1CentralFeb 15–Jun 15 · Jul 15–Sep 1WesternApr 1–Aug 1T = 32–72 S = 60–100 days to harvestSowSweet cornEasternMar 15–May 15CentralMar 15–May 15WesternApr 15–Jun 1585–90 days to harvestSowCucumberEasternApr 15–Aug 1CentralApr 15–Aug 1WesternMay 15–Jul 15T = 28–37 S = 56–65 days to harvestSowEggplantEasternApr 15–Jun 1 · Aug 1–Aug 15CentralApr 15–Jun 1 · Aug 1–Aug 15WesternMay 15–Jul 1T = 90–95 S = 150–155** days to harvestSowGarlicEasternSep 15–Nov 15CentralSep 15–Nov 15WesternSep 1–Nov 1B = 180-210 days to harvestSowKaleEasternFeb 15–Jun 15 · Aug 1–Sep 15 · Oct 1CentralFeb 15–Jun 15 · Aug 1–Sep 15WesternMar 15–Apr 15 · Aug 1–Aug 15T = 14–22 S = 40–50 days to harvestSowLettuce, headEasternFeb 1–Mar 1 · Mar 15–Apr 15 · Aug 15–Sep 1 · Sep 15–Oct 1CentralFeb 1–Mar 1 · Mar 15–Apr 15 · Aug 15–Sep 1 · Sep 15–Oct 1WesternMar 15–Apr 15 · Jul 15–Aug 15T = 45–60 S = 70–85 days to harvestSowLettuce, leafEasternFeb 1–Apr 15 · Aug 1–Sep 15 · Oct 1CentralFeb 1–Apr 15 · Aug 1–Sep 15WesternMar 15–Apr 1 · Jul 15–Aug 15T = 15–25 S = 40–50 days to harvestSowWatermelonEasternApr 15–Jun 15CentralApr 15–Jun 15WesternMay 15–Jun 15Eastern and western: T = 60–72, S = 90–100. Central: T = 62–72, S = 90–100 days to harvestSowOkraEasternMay 1–May 15 · Aug 1–Aug 15CentralMay 1–May 15 · Aug 1–Aug 15WesternMay 15–Jul 15T = 18–28 S = 60–70 days to harvestSowOnions, bulbEasternAug 1–Feb 15 · Mar 1–Mar 15CentralAug 1–Feb 15 · Mar 1–Mar 15WesternFeb 15 · Mar 1–Mar 15 · Aug 1–Aug 15B = 75–105 S = 90–120 days to harvestSowOnions, greenEasternFeb 1–Feb 15 · Mar 1–Mar 15 · Aug 15 · Sep 1CentralFeb 1–Feb 15 · Mar 1–Mar 15 · Aug 15 · Sep 1WesternFeb 15 · Mar 1–Apr 1 · Aug 15 · Sep 1 · Sep 15T = 42–56 S = 60–70 days to harvestSowPeas, bushEasternJan 1–Mar 15 · Aug 1–Oct 1CentralJan 1–Apr 1 · Aug 1–Sep 15WesternFeb 15–Apr 154–60 days to harvestSowPeas, viningEasternJan 1–Mar 15 · Aug 1–Sep 15CentralJan 1–Apr 1 · Aug 1–Sep 15WesternFeb 15–Apr 154–72 days to harvestSowPeas, field/southernEasternMar 15–Jun 15 · Aug 1–Aug 15CentralMar 15–Jun 15 · Aug 1–Aug 15WesternMay 1–Jun 1555–65 days to harvestSowPeppersEasternApr 15–Jun 1 · Aug 1CentralApr 15–Jun 1 · Aug 1WesternMay 15–Jun 15T = 75–80 S = 145–150** days to harvestSowPotatoes, IrishEasternFeb 15–Mar 15CentralFeb 15–Mar 15WesternMar 15–Apr 1Tu = 95–120 days to harvestSowPumpkinEasternApr 15–Jul 1CentralApr 15–Jul 1WesternMay 15–Jun 15115–120 days to harvestSowRadishesEasternFeb 1–Jun 15 · Aug 1–Sep 1CentralFeb 1–Jun 15 · Aug 1–Sep 1WesternMar 1–Apr 15 · Aug 1–Aug 1520–25 days to harvestSowSpinachEasternFeb 15–Jun 15 · Aug 1–Oct 1CentralFeb 15–Jun 15 · Aug 1–Oct 1WesternMar 1–May 15 · Aug 1–Aug 1550–60 days to harvestSowSummer squashEasternApr 1–Aug 1CentralApr 1–Aug 1WesternMay 15–Jul 15T = 30–40 S = 50–60 days to harvestSowWinter squashEasternApr 15–Aug 1CentralApr 15–Aug 1WesternMay 15–Jun 15T = 42–67 S = 70–95 days to harvestSowTomatoesEasternApr 15–Jul 1 · Aug 1CentralApr 15–Jul 1 · Aug 1WesternMay 1–Jun 15T = 75–85 S = 125–135** days to harvestSowTurnipsEasternFeb 1–Jun 15 · Aug 1–Sep 1CentralFeb 1–Jun 15 · Aug 1–Sep 1WesternMar 1–Apr 15 · Jul 15–Aug 155–60 days to harvest

Hickory, NC

Zone 8aAverage annual extreme minimum 10°F to 15°F

Median last 32°F is March 31. Median first 32°F is November 4. The 50% growing-season length is 219 days. The green band runs from the median last frost to the median first frost. Thin ticks mark the 10%, 50%, and 90% dates.

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

North Carolina. Nearest qualified station: HICKORY FAA AP, NC US (USW00003810), 3.5 miles. Median last 32°F March 31. Median first 32°F November 4. The 50% growing-season length is 219 days.

Open the ZIP page · Crop guides for North Carolina

32°F probabilities at this station
10%50%90%
Last 32°F on or afterApril 16March 31March 13
First 32°F on or beforeOctober 22November 4November 18

Column order matches the NCEI file: for the last freeze, 10% is the later date and 90% is the earlier date. How to read the probabilities.

A wall calendar surrounded by vegetables, herbs, seed packets, and watering cans.

Planting calendar

Windows below are from NC State Extension, Eastern North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs, retrieved 2026-10-10. Eastern, central, and western North Carolina are separate calendars. The publications do not define those regions by county. The eastern calendar says gardeners at the coast can plant up to two weeks earlier in the spring and two weeks later in the fall. That sentence is not turned into new dates. Half-month cells that carry the same mark are read as one run. A mark at both the start and the end of the year is one window that crosses New Year’s. Each region links to its own publication.

Date checks use your device’s calendar and appear after the page loads.

State crop pages: Bush beans · Beets · Broccoli · Cabbage · Carrots · Swiss chard · Collards · Sweet corn