When to plant in Elizabeth City, NC
USDA Zone 8aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Elizabeth City, North Carolina — all computed from Elizabeth City's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Elizabeth City, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Elizabeth City is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
ELIZABETH CITY · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Elizabeth City’s own odds, recorded at ELIZABETH CITY.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 2 | Apr 7 | Mar 22 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 | Nov 21 |
| 32°F | Apr 18 | Mar 27 | Mar 7 | Nov 3 | Nov 17 | Dec 5 |
| 28°F | Apr 4 | Mar 12 | Feb 20 | Nov 14 | Dec 2 | Dec 30 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Elizabeth City, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 38 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Elizabeth City planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Elizabeth City, NC?
Elizabeth City's average last spring frost falls near March 27 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Elizabeth City, NC?
Expect Elizabeth City's first fall frost near November 17 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Elizabeth City in?
Elizabeth City is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Elizabeth City?
There are roughly 235 frost-free days in Elizabeth City (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 27 to the first fall frost near November 17.
When should I plant tomatoes in Elizabeth City?
In Elizabeth City, start tomato seeds indoors around January 30–February 13, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 3 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Elizabeth City
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Elizabeth City’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Chesapeake · 43 km
- Virginia Beach · 57 km
- Suffolk · 57 km
- Portsmouth · 64 km
- Norfolk · 70 km
- Hampton · 84 km
- Newport News · 91 km
- Poquoson · 93 km
Frost dates recorded at ELIZABETH CITY, 3 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Elizabeth City, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00312719. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/elizabeth-city.