When to plant in Avery Creek, NC
Planting dates worked out from Avery Creek's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 89 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalApr 28about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outMay 171 year in 10 gets a later frost
Hardy crops like peas and spinach are timed from the typical date. Wait for the safe date before planting out tomatoes, peppers and squash.
First fall frost
- EarlyOct 51 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 17about half of years have had frost
- LateOct 249 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 168 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Asheville 8 Ssw · 4.5 km away · station 656 m, town 670 m. How we match towns to stations
This season
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | May 17 – May 31 | Jul 11 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 17 – May 31 | Jul 16 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Feb 24 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 10 |
| Peas | — | Mar 17 – Apr 14 | May 11 |
| Bush beans | — | May 10 – May 31 | Jun 29 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 7 – May 19 | Jun 6 |
| Beet | — | Mar 31 – May 12 | May 20 |
| Potato | — | Apr 7 – Apr 28 | Jun 16 |
| Kale | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 13 |
| Broccoli | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | May 30 |
| Cucumber | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | May 17 – May 31 | Jul 6 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | May 17 – May 31 | Jul 1 |
| Winter squash | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | May 17 – May 31 | Aug 5 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 10 – May 31 | Jul 9 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | Jun 29 |
| Garlic | — | Oct 3 – Oct 31 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Mar 17 – Apr 14 | Apr 24 |
| Basil | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 17 – May 31 | Jul 13 |
Avery Creek's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
Each year's last spring frostLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 2002 | May 23 |
| 2003 | Apr 24 |
| 2004 | May 4 |
| 2005 | Apr 28 |
| 2006 | Apr 11 |
| 2007 | May 8 |
| 2008 | Apr 30 |
| 2009 | May 19 |
| 2010 | Apr 29 |
| 2011 | May 6 |
| 2012 | Apr 13 |
| 2013 | May 14 |
| 2014 | May 17 |
| 2015 | Apr 5 |
| 2016 | Apr 17 |
| 2017 | Apr 9 |
| 2018 | Apr 30 |
| 2019 | Apr 3 |
| 2020 | May 10 |
| 2021 | Apr 23 |
| 2022 | Apr 20 |
| 2023 | May 4 |
| 2024 | Apr 23 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 146 |
| 2003 | 158 |
| 2004 | 165 |
| 2005 | 180 |
| 2006 | 184 |
| 2007 | 165 |
| 2008 | 155 |
| 2009 | 152 |
| 2010 | 168 |
| 2011 | 168 |
| 2012 | 202 |
| 2013 | 162 |
| 2014 | 140 |
| 2015 | 195 |
| 2016 | 188 |
| 2017 | 190 |
| 2018 | 173 |
| 2019 | 197 |
| 2020 | 160 |
| 2021 | 178 |
| 2022 | 181 |
| 2023 | 157 |
| 2024 | 171 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 19.1 °C |
| 2003 | 17.8 °C |
| 2004 | 18.4 °C |
| 2005 | 18.3 °C |
| 2006 | 17.3 °C |
| 2007 | 18.6 °C |
| 2008 | 18.5 °C |
| 2009 | 18.2 °C |
| 2010 | 19.9 °C |
| 2011 | 19.6 °C |
| 2012 | 19.1 °C |
| 2013 | 18.2 °C |
| 2014 | 18.6 °C |
| 2015 | 19.4 °C |
| 2016 | 19.7 °C |
| 2017 | 18.9 °C |
| 2018 | 19.6 °C |
| 2019 | 19.7 °C |
| 2020 | 18.4 °C |
| 2021 | 18.5 °C |
| 2022 | 19.0 °C |
| 2023 | 18.4 °C |
| 2024 | 19.6 °C |
What this means for you: This station's record is too short to show a reliable trend yet.
Source: daily records from Asheville 8 Ssw (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.