When to plant in Matthews, NC
USDA Zone 8aMatthews, 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, Matthews supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
MONROE 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 Matthews’s own odds, recorded at MONROE AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 26 | Apr 12 | Mar 26 | Oct 14 | Oct 27 | Nov 7 |
| 32°F | Apr 16 | Mar 31 | Mar 11 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 | Nov 19 |
| 28°F | Apr 5 | Mar 16 | Feb 24 | Nov 2 | Nov 16 | 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 Matthews, 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.
Matthews planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Matthews, NC?
On average, the last spring frost in Matthews is around March 31 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Matthews, NC?
In Matthews, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 5 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Matthews in?
Matthews is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Matthews?
Matthews has about 219 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 31) and first fall frost (November 5).
When should I plant tomatoes in Matthews?
For Matthews, 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 Matthews
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Matthews’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Stallings · 5 km
- Indian Trail · 8 km
- Mint Hill · 8 km
- Weddington · 11 km
- Charlotte · 15 km
- Pineville · 17 km
- Monroe · 19 km
- Waxhaw · 20 km
Frost dates recorded at MONROE AP, 14 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 Matthews, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00053872. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/matthews.