When to plant in Hickory, NC
USDA Zone 8aHickory, North Carolina frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 8a, Hickory supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
HICKORY FAA AP · 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 Hickory’s own odds, recorded at HICKORY FAA AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 29 | Apr 13 | Mar 29 | Oct 13 | Oct 26 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F | Apr 16 | Mar 31 | Mar 13 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F | Apr 3 | Mar 18 | Feb 26 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 | Dec 5 |
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 Hickory, 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.
Hickory planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Hickory, NC?
Hickory's average last spring frost falls near March 31 — 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 Hickory, NC?
The first fall frost in Hickory typically arrives around November 4 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Hickory in?
Hickory is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Hickory?
Hickory has about 218 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 31) and first fall frost (November 4).
When should I plant tomatoes in Hickory?
For Hickory, sow tomatoes indoors about February 3–February 17 and move the seedlings out around April 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Hickory
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Hickory’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Newton · 12 km
- Lenoir · 26 km
- Lincolnton · 30 km
- Morganton · 34 km
- Statesville · 41 km
- Lake Norman of Iredell · 41 km
- Mooresville · 48 km
- Cornelius · 50 km
Frost dates recorded at HICKORY FAA AP, 5 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 Hickory, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003810. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/hickory.