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When to plant in Monroe, NC

USDA Zone 8a

Everything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Monroe, North Carolina — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.

In zone 8a, Monroe supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.

Station · MONROE 2 SE · 4.2 km
Last spring frost
April 3
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 1
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
212 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for MonroeA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Monroe: last spring frost around April 3, first fall frost around November 1, about 212 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average last spring frost in Monroe is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

MONROE 2 SE · 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 Monroe’s own odds, recorded at MONROE 2 SE.

Frost-probability curves for MonroeProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 3 and the first fall frost around November 1, giving about 212 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°FApr 29Apr 14Mar 31Oct 12Oct 25Nov 5
32°FApr 18Apr 3Mar 17Oct 21Nov 1Nov 14
28°FApr 7Mar 23Mar 1Oct 30Nov 10Nov 29

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 12July 26
Fall sowin 7 days
Rutabaga
July 26August 9
Fall sowin 21 days
Broccoli
August 9August 23
Fall sowin 21 days
Cabbage
August 9August 23
Fall sowin 21 days
Carrot
August 9August 23
Fall sowin 21 days
Cauliflower
August 9August 23
Fall sowin 21 days
Napa Cabbage
August 9September 6

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 Monroe, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 32 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.

MONROE 2 SE
Primary
4 km · 168 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 3
FALL
Nov 1
MONROE AP
6 km · 207 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 31
FALL
Nov 5
PAGELAND
32 km · 159 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 27
FALL
Nov 8

Monroe planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Monroe, NC?

Monroe's average last spring frost falls near April 3 — 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 Monroe, NC?

The first fall frost in Monroe typically arrives around November 1 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Monroe in?

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

How long is the growing season in Monroe?

Monroe has about 212 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 3) and first fall frost (November 1).

When should I plant tomatoes in Monroe?

For Monroe, sow tomatoes indoors about February 6–February 20 and move the seedlings out around April 10, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Monroe

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at MONROE 2 SE, 4 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 Monroe, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00315771. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/monroe.
When to Plant in Monroe, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a — BlissGarden