Asheville, NC — USDA Zone 7a

Frost dates and growing season in Asheville

All of Asheville's mapped ZIP codes fall in the same hardiness band, Zone 7a.

These are 50%-probability averages modeled from Asheville's USDA hardiness zone and regional climate normals — not a single-station reading. In a typical year the last spring frost will have passed by April 22, but a colder-than-average year can run 1-2 weeks later. Plant tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) once both soil and night temperatures are consistently warm — a thermometer beats the calendar.

Growing season in Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina sits in USDA Zone 7a, with roughly 180 frost-free days between an average last spring frost around April 22 and a first fall frost around October 19. That is a long season — succession-sow through summer and run a full fall crop; heat-sensitive greens still need spring/autumn timing. Asheville lies near 35.6°N; higher-latitude gardens get longer midsummer days but a tighter shoulder season at this zone.

What grows in Asheville

Asheville falls in USDA Zone 7a, so the same hardiness constraints apply as the full Zone 7 guide. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees rated to Zone 7a (or hardier) will overwinter here in a typical year.

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
• Okra
• Sweet potatoes
• Squash, melons
• Beans (lima + pole)
• Figs
• Pomegranates (in protected spots)
• Apples, peaches, plums, pears
• Blueberries (rabbiteye + highbush)
• Asparagus, rhubarb

What to plant in Asheville this week

Asheville is in high summer — most spring plantings are in. Keep an eye on watering and start planning your fall crop. Cool-season seedlings (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce) can be started indoors for a fall transplant.

• When to plant tomatoes in zone 7
• When to plant peppers in zone 7
• When to plant bush beans in zone 7
• When to plant cucumbers in zone 7
• When to plant basil in zone 7

Full planting calendar for Asheville

Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to zone 7 averages:

• When to plant tomatoes in zone 7
• When to plant peppers in zone 7
• When to plant basil in zone 7
• When to plant garlic in zone 7
• When to plant lettuce in zone 7
• When to plant bush beans in zone 7
• When to plant cucumbers in zone 7
• When to plant summer squash in zone 7
• When to plant peas in zone 7
• When to plant carrots in zone 7

ZIP codes in Asheville

Drill down to the precise frost window and planting calendar for a specific ZIP in Asheville:

• 28801 — Asheville (Zone 7a)

Local microclimate notes

Zone tables give you the average — but Ashevillegardens vary. South-facing walls and paved areas can run a full half-zone warmer than the published rating. Low-lying spots, frost pockets, and shaded north sides can run colder. If you've gardened here a few seasons, your own frost record — the last time you actually got frost damage — beats any national average.

Source and methodology

Hardiness zone from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Frost-date and growing-season figures are modeled from Asheville's USDA hardiness zone and regional NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals — zone-level estimates, not a per-station record, so treat them as planning guidance and confirm against your own local frost history. Crop recommendations draw on US Cooperative Extension references, curated by the Growli editorial team. Last reviewed June 2026.

Other cities in North Carolina

• Charlotte, NC — USDA Zone 8a
• Durham, NC — USDA Zone 7b
• Fayetteville, NC — USDA Zone 8a
• Greensboro, NC — USDA Zone 7b
• High Point, NC — USDA Zone 7b
• Jacksonville, NC — USDA Zone 8a
• Kernersville, NC — USDA Zone 7b
• New Bern, NC — USDA Zone 8a
• Raleigh, NC — USDA Zone 8a
• Wilmington, NC — USDA Zone 8b
• Winston-Salem, NC — USDA Zone 7b
• All of North Carolina by zone

Related guides

• USDA Zone 7 — full plant + frost guide
• Browse USDA hardiness zones by city
• Look up a ZIP code
• How to start a vegetable garden — beginner guide