When to plant in Fayetteville, NC
USDA Zone 8aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Fayetteville, North Carolina — all computed from Fayetteville's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Fayetteville, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
FAYETTEVILLE (PWC) · 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 Fayetteville’s own odds, recorded at FAYETTEVILLE (PWC).
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 27 | Apr 9 | Mar 23 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
| 32°F | Apr 16 | Mar 30 | Mar 9 | Oct 28 | Nov 10 | Nov 29 |
| 28°F | Apr 6 | Mar 16 | Feb 21 | Nov 4 | Nov 23 | Dec 17 |
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 Fayetteville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 25 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.
Fayetteville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fayetteville, NC?
Fayetteville's average last spring frost falls near March 30 — 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 Fayetteville, NC?
In Fayetteville, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 10 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Fayetteville in?
Fayetteville is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Fayetteville?
There are roughly 225 frost-free days in Fayetteville (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 30 to the first fall frost near November 10.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fayetteville?
In Fayetteville, start tomato seeds indoors around February 2–February 16, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 6 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Fayetteville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fayetteville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Spring Lake · 11 km
- Hope Mills · 13 km
- Anderson Creek · 22 km
- Spout Springs · 22 km
- Southern Pines · 41 km
- Pinehurst · 47 km
- Sanford · 49 km
- Lumberton · 50 km
Frost dates recorded at FAYETTEVILLE (PWC), 11 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 Fayetteville, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00313017. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/fayetteville.