Frost dates · USDA zone 8b
Frost dates for Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC sees its last 32 °F night of spring around March 19 and its first of fall around November 20 — a 247-day freeze-free season in a typical year.
Pick a sauce; the Plan Builder runs this station's dates and hands back the calendar, plant count and gear list.
Freeze odds, by date
| Odds | Last spring freeze after | First fall freeze before |
|---|---|---|
| 9 years in 10 | Feb 26 | Dec 6 |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| 1 year in 10 | Apr 4 | Nov 5 |
The top row is the risky edge: in 9 years of 10 a spring freeze still comes after it, so tender transplants set out then need cover. The bottom row is the cautious date — only 1 year in 10 freezes after it — and the one to plan uncovered tender transplants against. Freeze-free season: 247 days median, at least 223 in 9 years of 10, at least 274 days in 1 year of 10. NOAA ranks season length year by year, so it is not the gap between two rows above. A hard freeze (28 °F) has a median last date of Mar 2 and first of Dec 3.
Wilmington planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Mar 19) and median first frost (Nov 20) above, using each cultivar's days to maturity. Same engine as the Plan Builder.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant | First harvest | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardneck GarlicSiberian (porcelain hardneck) | — | Oct 15prior fall | Jun 12 | 240 from sow |
| Spanish OnionYellow Sweet Spanish (long-day) | Dec 25 | Feb 19 | Jun 9 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Mar 19 | Apr 18 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Mar 5 | Mar 5 | Apr 19 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Feb 19 | Apr 2 | Jun 1 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 22 | Mar 26 | Jun 9 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Jan 8 | Apr 2 | Jul 6 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 22 | Mar 26 | Jun 9 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 22 | Mar 26 | Jun 14 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 22 | Mar 26 | Jun 14 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Mar 5 | Mar 5 | May 14 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Feb 5 | Mar 26 | Jun 4 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Feb 5 | Mar 26 | Jun 9 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Feb 5 | Mar 26 | Jun 14 | 80 from transplant |
Tight means first harvest lands within two weeks of the median first fall frost: start that crop indoors on time or cover it in fall.
What sauce can Wilmington grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Wilmington container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Wilmington frost questions
When is the last frost in Wilmington, NC?
The median last 32 °F freeze at WILMINGTON INTL AP, NC is March 19: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after April 4; nine years in ten, it comes after February 26. Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Wilmington, NC?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is November 20. One year in ten it arrives before November 5; nine years in ten, before December 6.
How long is the growing season in Wilmington, NC?
247 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 223 days; one year in ten, at least 274 days.
What growing zone is Wilmington, NC?
USDA hardiness zone 8b, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 28403. A zone describes the coldest winter night, not when frost ends, so it is the wrong number for a planting calendar — the frost dates on this page are the right one.
When should I plant tomatoes in Wilmington, NC?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Feb 5 and transplant around Mar 26, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Apr 4. First ripe fruit lands around Jun 9.
When should I plant peppers in Wilmington, NC?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Jan 22; transplant no earlier than Mar 26, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Jun 9.
Nearby in North Carolina
- Jacksonvillelast frost Mar 23
- Fayettevillelast frost Mar 30
- Greenvillelast frost Mar 27
- Wilsonlast frost Mar 22
- Fuquay-Varinalast frost Apr 6
- Holly Springslast frost Mar 31
All North Carolina frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →