Frost dates · USDA zone 8a
Frost dates for Wilson, NC
Wilson, NC sees its last 32 °F night of spring around March 22 and its first of fall around November 12 — a 236-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 | Mar 3 | Dec 1 |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Mar 22 | Nov 12 |
| 1 year in 10 | Apr 8 | Nov 1 |
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: 236 days median, at least 213 in 9 years of 10, at least 263 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 7 and first of Nov 26.
Wilson planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Mar 22) and median first frost (Nov 12) 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 28 | Feb 22 | Jun 12 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Mar 22 | Apr 21 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Mar 8 | Mar 8 | Apr 22 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Feb 22 | Apr 5 | Jun 4 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 25 | Mar 29 | Jun 12 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Jan 11 | Apr 5 | Jul 9 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 25 | Mar 29 | Jun 12 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 25 | Mar 29 | Jun 17 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 25 | Mar 29 | Jun 17 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Mar 8 | Mar 8 | May 17 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Feb 8 | Mar 29 | Jun 7 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Feb 8 | Mar 29 | Jun 12 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Feb 8 | Mar 29 | Jun 17 | 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 Wilson grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Wilson container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Wilson frost questions
When is the last frost in Wilson, NC?
The median last 32 °F freeze at WILSON 3 SW, NC is March 22: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after April 8; nine years in ten, it comes after March 3. Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Wilson, NC?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is November 12. One year in ten it arrives before November 1; nine years in ten, before December 1.
How long is the growing season in Wilson, NC?
236 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 213 days; one year in ten, at least 263 days.
What growing zone is Wilson, NC?
USDA hardiness zone 8a, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 27893. 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 Wilson, NC?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Feb 8 and transplant around Mar 29, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Apr 8. First ripe fruit lands around Jun 12.
When should I plant peppers in Wilson, NC?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Jan 25; transplant no earlier than Mar 29, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Jun 12.
Nearby in North Carolina
- Rocky Mountlast frost Apr 1
- Greenvillelast frost Mar 27
- Wake Forestlast frost Apr 4
- Raleighlast frost Mar 28
- Fuquay-Varinalast frost Apr 6
- Carylast frost Mar 27
All North Carolina frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →