When to plant in Jacksonville, NC
USDA Zone 8bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Jacksonville, North Carolina — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Jacksonville, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
NEW RIVER MCAF · 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 Jacksonville’s own odds, recorded at NEW RIVER MCAF.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 17 | Apr 2 | Mar 16 | Oct 22 | Nov 5 | Nov 21 |
| 32°F | Apr 7 | Mar 23 | Mar 2 | Nov 1 | Nov 16 | Dec 7 |
| 28°F | Mar 29 | Mar 8 | Feb 12 | Nov 11 | Dec 1 | Dec 31 |
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 Jacksonville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 14 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.
Jacksonville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Jacksonville, NC?
Plan for the last spring frost in Jacksonville around March 23 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Jacksonville, NC?
Expect Jacksonville's first fall frost near November 16 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Jacksonville in?
Jacksonville is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Jacksonville?
There are roughly 238 frost-free days in Jacksonville (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 23 to the first fall frost near November 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in Jacksonville?
In Jacksonville, start tomato seeds indoors around January 26–February 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 30 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Jacksonville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Jacksonville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Piney Green · 9 km
- Havelock · 49 km
- New Bern · 50 km
- Kinston · 63 km
- Murraysville · 64 km
- Wilmington · 73 km
- Myrtle Grove · 81 km
- Leland · 83 km
Frost dates recorded at NEW RIVER MCAF, 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 Jacksonville, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093727. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/jacksonville.