The Raleigh-Cary NC Growing Calendar: What to Plant and When

If you grow a garden in the Raleigh-Cary area, you know the frustration: you plant sweet potatoes in spring, something eats half your tomatoes in July, and by October you’re still wondering where the fall went. At Farmsustaina, we’ve spent years learning to work with the North Carolina growing calendar rather than fighting it. Here’s the annual rhythm we follow.

Spring (March–May): the sweet spot

After our average last frost around March 15, the next 10 weeks are some of the best growing days of the year — warm but not brutal, moderate rainfall, and long days. This is when we push hard. Direct sow green beans, cucumbers, and summer squash into warm soil. Transplant tomato and pepper seedlings once nights stay reliably above 50°F. Set sweet potato slips by late April. Plant sweet corn in blocks for good pollination.

Spring is also the best time for crops that struggle in summer heat — lettuce, snap peas, and brassicas want to mature before June. Plant them early, harvest before they bolt.

Summer (June–August): manage, don’t push

NC summers are not for starting new crops. They’re for managing what’s already in the ground. Mulch everything heavily to hold moisture. Water at the base, early morning, every other day in dry spells. Watch for spider mites on beans and squash vine borers — both peak in July. Harvest continuously to keep plants producing. Summer is the season of okra, watermelons, peppers, and sweet corn coming into harvest from your spring plantings. Read our full guide to Zone 8a summer vegetables for what performs best.

The critical July window: start your fall garden

Most gardeners wait too long for fall. Broccoli, kale, collards, and cauliflower need to be started from seed in late July to early August — when it still feels like deep summer — to have enough time before first frost. At Farmsustaina, we seed fall brassicas indoors from July 20 onward. Carrots, beets, and turnips go directly in the ground from late July. Fall lettuce can go in from mid-August. If you wait until September, it’s too late for most crops.

Fall (September–November): the second harvest

With first frost typically around November 15, fall gives us 10–12 more weeks of growing after the summer heat breaks in late August. This is peak season for kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and root vegetables. Frost actually sweetens kale and collards by converting starches to sugars — some of our best produce of the year comes in October and November. Keep harvesting right up to hard frost.

Want to grow your own? Stop by our farm stand at Good Hope Farm and ask us anything — we love talking through growing plans with our neighbours. Follow our Facebook page for what’s in season right now.

Farmsustaina – Rooted in Nature, Rich in Health – Farm-Fresh & Organic!