When to plant in Kinston, NC
USDA Zone 8aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Kinston, North Carolina — all computed from Kinston's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Kinston, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
KINSTON AG RSCH · 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 Kinston’s own odds, recorded at KINSTON AG RSCH.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 18 | Apr 5 | Mar 23 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
| 32°F | Apr 7 | Mar 25 | Mar 9 | Oct 29 | Nov 11 | Dec 2 |
| 28°F | Mar 30 | Mar 13 | Feb 21 | Nov 6 | Nov 26 | Dec 22 |
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 Kinston, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 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.
Kinston planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Kinston, NC?
Plan for the last spring frost in Kinston around March 25 (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 Kinston, NC?
The first fall frost in Kinston typically arrives around November 11 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Kinston in?
Kinston is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Kinston?
There are roughly 231 frost-free days in Kinston (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 25 to the first fall frost near November 11.
When should I plant tomatoes in Kinston?
In Kinston, start tomato seeds indoors around January 28–February 11, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 1 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Kinston
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Kinston’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Winterville · 33 km
- Goldsboro · 36 km
- Greenville · 41 km
- New Bern · 52 km
- Wilson · 59 km
- Piney Green · 63 km
- Jacksonville · 63 km
- Tarboro · 70 km
Frost dates recorded at KINSTON AG RSCH, 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 Kinston, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00314689. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/kinston.