When to plant in Morganton, NC
USDA Zone 7bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Morganton, North Carolina — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 7b, Morganton supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
The average last spring frost in Morganton is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
MORGANTON · 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 Morganton’s own odds, recorded at MORGANTON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 10 | Apr 22 | Apr 5 | Oct 7 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | Apr 26 | Apr 7 | Mar 24 | Oct 14 | Oct 28 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 13 | Mar 28 | Mar 9 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 | Nov 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 Morganton, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 29 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.
Morganton planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Morganton, NC?
Morganton's average last spring frost falls near April 7 — 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 Morganton, NC?
Expect Morganton's first fall frost near October 28 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Morganton in?
Morganton is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. In zone 7b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Morganton?
Morganton has about 204 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 7) and first fall frost (October 28).
When should I plant tomatoes in Morganton?
For Morganton, sow tomatoes indoors about February 10–February 24 and move the seedlings out around April 14, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Morganton
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Morganton’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lenoir · 24 km
- Hickory · 34 km
- Newton · 43 km
- Lincolnton · 51 km
- Shelby · 52 km
- Boone · 53 km
- Kings Mountain · 65 km
- Gastonia · 72 km
Frost dates recorded at MORGANTON, 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 Morganton, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00315838. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/morganton.