When to plant in Wake Forest, NC
USDA Zone 8aWake Forest, 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, Wake Forest supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
FALLS LAKE · 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 Wake Forest’s own odds, recorded at FALLS LAKE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 2 | Apr 17 | Apr 2 | Oct 14 | Oct 26 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F | Apr 19 | Apr 4 | Mar 20 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F | Apr 9 | Mar 24 | Mar 7 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 | Dec 1 |
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 Wake Forest, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 26 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.
Wake Forest planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Wake Forest, NC?
Wake Forest's average last spring frost falls near April 4 — 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 Wake Forest, NC?
In Wake Forest, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 4 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Wake Forest in?
Wake Forest is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Wake Forest?
Wake Forest has about 214 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 4) and first fall frost (November 4).
When should I plant tomatoes in Wake Forest?
For Wake Forest, sow tomatoes indoors about February 7–February 21 and move the seedlings out around April 11, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Wake Forest
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Wake Forest’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Rolesville · 7 km
- Raleigh · 19 km
- Knightdale · 19 km
- Wendell · 24 km
- Garner · 32 km
- Morrisville · 33 km
- Clayton · 34 km
- Cary · 35 km
Frost dates recorded at FALLS LAKE, 13 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 Wake Forest, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00312993. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/wake-forest.