When is the last frost in Wilmington, NC?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Wilmington is March 19, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until April 4.

When is the first frost in Wilmington?

The average first fall frost in Wilmington is November 20, with a growing season of about 247 days.

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Wilmington, North Carolina frost dates

Average last spring frost: March 19. Average first fall frost: November 20. That gives a growing season of about 247 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is April 4, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Mar 19

1-in-10 risk after Apr 4

First frost (50%)

Nov 20

1-in-10 risk before Nov 5

Growing season

247 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Mar 2

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	February 26	December 6
70%	March 12	November 27
50%	March 19	November 20
30%	March 26	November 13
10%	April 4	November 5

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after April 4. These are NOAA probabilities for the Wilmington International Airport weather station (USW00013748, elevation 10 m), 1991–2020.

Wilmington vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (March 19). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (Apr 4) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Feb 26	Mar 26 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Jan 8	Feb 19
Brussels sprouts	Jan 8	Feb 19
Cabbage	Jan 1	Feb 12
Cauliflower	Jan 22	Mar 5
Sweet corn	Feb 19	Mar 19 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Mar 5	Mar 26
Kale	Jan 1	Feb 12
Leeks	Dec 4	Feb 12
Lettuce	Jan 29	Mar 5
Melons	Mar 12	Apr 2
Onions	Nov 27	Feb 5 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Jan 22	Feb 19 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Feb 5	Apr 2
Squash	Mar 12	Apr 2
Tomatoes	Jan 22	Mar 19

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around November 20. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before November 5. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around December 3.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Raleigh, NC	Mar 31	Nov 4	~198 km
Charleston, SC	Mar 7	Nov 27	~248 km
Greensboro, NC	Mar 30	Nov 5	~276 km
Columbia, SC	Mar 25	Nov 7	~297 km
Charlotte, NC	Mar 30	Nov 3	~300 km
Virginia Beach, VA	Mar 17	Nov 23	~332 km

More: all North Carolina frost dates