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When to plant in Graham, NC

USDA Zone 8a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Graham, North Carolina — all computed from Graham's nearest NOAA weather station.

Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Graham, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.

Station · HAW RVR 1E · 2.0 km
Last spring frost
April 4
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 3
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
213 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for GrahamA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Graham: last spring frost around April 4, first fall frost around November 3, about 213 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

HAW RVR 1E · 1991–2020

The 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 Graham’s own odds, recorded at HAW RVR 1E.

Frost-probability curves for GrahamProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 4 and the first fall frost around November 3, giving about 213 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 1Apr 15Apr 1Oct 15Oct 27Nov 6
32°FApr 19Apr 4Mar 15Oct 24Nov 3Nov 17
28°FApr 8Mar 20Feb 28Nov 1Nov 13Dec 3

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Brussels Sprouts
July 14July 28
Fall sowin 9 days
Rutabaga
July 28August 11
Fall sowin 23 days
Broccoli
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Cabbage
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Carrot
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Cauliflower
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Napa Cabbage
August 11September 8

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Graham, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 8 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

HAW RVR 1E
Primary
2 km · 194 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 4
FALL
Nov 3
BURLINGTON FIRE STN #5
5 km · 201 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 29
FALL
Nov 9
BURLINGTON ALAMANCE AP
8 km · 188 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 1
FALL
Nov 2

Graham planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Graham, NC?

Graham's average last spring frost falls near April 4 — 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 Graham, NC?

Expect Graham's first fall frost near November 3 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Graham in?

Graham is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Graham?

There are roughly 213 frost-free days in Graham (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around April 4 to the first fall frost near November 3.

When should I plant tomatoes in Graham?

In Graham, start tomato seeds indoors around February 7–February 21, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 11 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Graham

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Graham’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at HAW RVR 1E, 2 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Graham, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00313919. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/graham.
When to Plant in Graham, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a — BlissGarden