Goldsboro, NC planting zone & frost dates
Goldsboro is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost usually comes around March 28 and the first fall frost around November 12, for a growing season of about 231 days.
Planting calendar for Goldsboro
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (March 28) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Jan 31 – Feb 14 Transplant outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 Transplant outdoors: Apr 11 – Apr 18 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 Transplant outdoors: Apr 11 – Apr 18 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 Transplant outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 Transplant outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 14 – Feb 28 Transplant outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 17 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 12).
Useful for zone 8a gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Mar 9 | Mar 28 | Apr 11 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 29 | Nov 12 | Nov 1 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 11, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 1. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 15.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Goldsboro
- 27530 zone 8a
- 27531 zone 8b
- 27532 zone 8a
- 27533 zone 8a
- 27534 zone 8a
Nearby cities
- Wilson zone 8a, last frost Mar 22
- Smithfield zone 8a, last frost Mar 29
- Kinston zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
- Clayton zone 8a, last frost Apr 7
- Rocky Mount zone 8a, last frost Mar 31
- Knightdale zone 8a, last frost Apr 7
- Greenville zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Tarboro zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
Questions
What growing zone is Goldsboro, NC?
Goldsboro is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a (average extreme winter low 10°F to 15°F), according to the USDA 2023 map. Some ZIP codes of the city fall in zone 8b.
When is the last frost in Goldsboro?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Goldsboro is March 28. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 11.
When can I plant tomatoes in Goldsboro?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 4 – Apr 11. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Goldsboro Ag 1 N, NC (USC00313503), 4.4 km (2.7 mi) from the city center, elevation 33 m, based on 10 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.