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Charlotte, North Carolina · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Charlotte

This month's sowing list for Charlotte, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

17 vegetables to sow or plant now

10 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 11, and frost is unlikely after about April 17.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish, bok choy, arugula, scallions, cilantro and lettuce.

Sow or plant in Charlotte in October

Start seeds indoors

  • Onion

Direct sow

  • Arugula
  • Bok choy
  • Cilantro
  • Lettuce
  • Radish
  • Scallions
  • Spinach
  • Beets
  • Dill
  • Kale
  • Swiss chard
  • Turnip

Transplant

  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Strawberry
  • Chives
  • Kale
  • Parsley

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.

Last month to start: arugula, beets, bok choy, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.

Ready to pick in October

  • Arugula
  • Basil
  • Beets
  • Bell pepper
  • Bok choy
  • Broccoli
  • Bush beans
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Cucumber
  • Dill
  • Hot pepper
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Pole beans
  • Radish
  • Runner beans
  • Scallions
  • Strawberry
  • Sweet corn
  • Swiss chard
  • Tomato
  • Turnip
  • Winter squash
  • Zucchini

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Charlotte

Tomato

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: March to June.

Transplant: April to August.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 15 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: March to April.

Best time to start: March to April.

Pick: June to July.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: September to December.

Best time to start: September to December.

Pick: April to July.

First pick about 24 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Direct sow: January to April and September to October.

Best time to start: January to April and September to October.

Pick: April to June and October to January.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Direct sow: January to May and August to September.

Best time to start: January to April and August to September.

Pick: May to August and October to January.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Bush beans

Direct sow: April to August.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Onion

Onions

Start seeds indoors: August to March.

Transplant: October to April.

Best time to start: October to April.

Pick: April to July.

First pick about 28 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: February to May and September to December.

Best time to start: February to May and September to December.

Pick: April to October.

First pick about 19 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: April to July.

Direct sow: April to July.

Transplant: April to July.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: April to August.

Direct sow: April to August.

Transplant: April to September.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Charlotte

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
ArugulaSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
BasilTTSSSSabout 7 weeks
BeetsSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
Bell pepperTPPPPPabout 15 weeks
Bok choySSSSSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
BroccoliTPPPTPabout 13 weeks
Brussels sproutsTPabout 22 weeks
Bush beansSSSSSabout 7 weeks
CabbageTPPPTPabout 14 weeks
CantaloupeTSSSabout 9 weeks
CarrotSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
CauliflowerTPabout 16 weeks
CeleriacTPabout 24 weeks
CeleryTTPPPabout 21 weeks
ChivesPTSSSSSTTSabout 8 weeks
CilantroSSSSSabout 6 weeks
CucumberSSSSSabout 6 weeks
DillSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
EggplantTPPPPabout 17 weeks
Fava beansSabout 15 weeks
GarlicPPPPabout 24 weeks
Hot pepperTPPPPabout 17 weeks
KaleSSSSSPTSabout 7 weeks
LeekTPPPPTPabout 20 weeks
LettuceSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
OkraSSSabout 6 weeks
OnionPPPPPPPTTabout 28 weeks
ParsleyPTSSSSTTSabout 8 weeks
ParsnipSSSSabout 12 weeks
PeasSSSSSabout 10 weeks
Pole beansSSSSSabout 8 weeks
PotatoPPabout 10 weeks
RadishSSSSSSabout 3 weeks
Runner beansSabout 9 weeks
RutabagaSabout 16 weeks
ScallionsSSSSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
SpinachSSSSabout 7 weeks
StrawberryPPPPPPPPabout 19 weeks
Sweet cornSSSSSabout 8 weeks
Sweet potatoPPPabout 11 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
TomatoTPPPPPabout 15 weeks
TurnipSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
WatermelonTSSSabout 9 weeks
Winter squashSSSSabout 12 weeks
ZucchiniSSSSSPabout 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: parsnip.

Charlotte season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: basil, bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, potato, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, cilantro, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, parsnip, peas, potato, radish, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, kale, leek, onion, parsley, parsnip and runner beans.

Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, leek, okra, parsnip, pole beans, runner beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon and winter squash.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, Brussels sprouts, cilantro, dill, garlic, leek, lettuce, peas, radish, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, parsley, peas, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip and zucchini.

Winter December to February

Time to start: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celeriac, celery, chives, cilantro, dill, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, peas, radish, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Last chance for: celeriac, fava beans, garlic, rutabaga and strawberry.

Frost in Charlotte

Last frost, most years
around April 11
Frost is unlikely after
about April 17
First frost, most years
around November 2
Frost-free days in a year
about 205

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Questions about planting in Charlotte

What can I plant now in Charlotte?

In October, 17 vegetables can be sown or planted in Charlotte, including arugula, beets, bok choy, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic and kale. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Charlotte?

In Charlotte, sow tomatoes indoors from March to June and transplant them from April to August. The best time to start is from April to July. Picking runs from July to October.

When should I plant potatoes in Charlotte?

In Charlotte, plant potatoes from March to April. The best time to start is from March to April. Picking runs from June to July.

When should I plant garlic in Charlotte?

In Charlotte, plant garlic from September to December. The best time to start is from September to December. Picking runs from April to July.

When is the last frost in Charlotte?

In most years the last frost in Charlotte comes around April 11. Frost is unlikely after about April 17, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 2.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Charlotte?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), beets (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), cucumber (about 6 weeks) and Swiss chard (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

What to plant now in New York · What to plant now in Boston · What to plant now in Chicago · What to plant now in Cleveland · What to plant now in Philadelphia · What to plant now in Washington DC · What to plant now in Minneapolis · What to plant now in Detroit · What to plant now in Nashville · What to plant now in St. Louis · What to plant now in Kansas City · What to plant now in Salt Lake City · What to plant now in Sacramento · What to plant now in Atlanta · What to plant now in Dallas · What to plant now in Houston · What to plant now in Austin · What to plant now in Denver · What to plant now in Phoenix · What to plant now in Seattle · What to plant now in Portland · What to plant now in Los Angeles · What to plant now in San Diego

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Charlotte. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).

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