When to plant in Winston-Salem, NC
USDA Zone 8aWinston-Salem, 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, Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
WINSTON SALEM RYNLDS 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 Winston-Salem’s own odds, recorded at WINSTON SALEM RYNLDS AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 27 | Apr 9 | Mar 23 | Oct 17 | Oct 30 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | Mar 26 | Mar 6 | Oct 28 | Nov 9 | Nov 26 |
| 28°F | Mar 30 | Mar 13 | Feb 21 | Nov 5 | Nov 23 | 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 Winston-Salem, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 15 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.
Winston-Salem planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Winston-Salem, NC?
Plan for the last spring frost in Winston-Salem around March 26 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Winston-Salem, NC?
Expect Winston-Salem's first fall frost near November 9 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Winston-Salem in?
Winston-Salem is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Winston-Salem?
Winston-Salem has about 228 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 26) and first fall frost (November 9).
When should I plant tomatoes in Winston-Salem?
For Winston-Salem, sow tomatoes indoors about January 29–February 12 and move the seedlings out around April 2, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Winston-Salem
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Winston-Salem’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Clemmons · 14 km
- Lewisville · 15 km
- Kernersville · 16 km
- High Point · 27 km
- Thomasville · 29 km
- Lexington · 34 km
- Summerfield · 34 km
- Archdale · 35 km
Frost dates recorded at WINSTON SALEM RYNLDS AP, 5 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 Winston-Salem, NC — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093807. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-carolina/winston-salem.