When to plant in Roanoke Rapids, NC
USDA Zone 8aRoanoke Rapids, 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, Roanoke Rapids supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
ROANOKE RAPIDS · 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 Roanoke Rapids’s own odds, recorded at ROANOKE RAPIDS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 30 | Apr 12 | Mar 29 | Oct 16 | Oct 31 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F | Apr 16 | Mar 31 | Mar 15 | Oct 28 | Nov 9 | Nov 25 |
| 28°F | Apr 4 | Mar 18 | Feb 28 | Nov 7 | Nov 22 | Dec 14 |
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 Roanoke Rapids, 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.
Roanoke Rapids planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Roanoke Rapids, NC?
Roanoke Rapids's average last spring frost falls near March 31 — 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 Roanoke Rapids, NC?
In Roanoke Rapids, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 9 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Roanoke Rapids in?
Roanoke Rapids is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Roanoke Rapids?
Roanoke Rapids has about 223 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 31) and first fall frost (November 9).
When should I plant tomatoes in Roanoke Rapids?
For Roanoke Rapids, 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 Roanoke Rapids
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Roanoke Rapids’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Rocky Mount · 55 km
- Tarboro · 61 km
- Henderson · 70 km
- Wilson · 83 km
- Petersburg · 87 km
- Colonial Heights · 93 km
- Rolesville · 94 km
- Wake Forest · 94 km
Frost dates recorded at ROANOKE RAPIDS, 4 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 Roanoke Rapids, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00317319. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/roanoke-rapids.