The answer to the question as to when should you start planting vegetables in Charlotte really depends on the vegetable. Some like arugula, spinach and peas can be sown as early as the ground can be worked. If you get seeds in the ground this weekend you can count on a spinach harvest in 30 – 40 days. What a nice addition to your Easter meal!
source: NOAA.gov
Other vegetables should not be sown until the danger of frost has past. Don’t be fooled by the nice weather, the risk of frost still exists in the Carolinas. In fact, depending on where in the state you are, the average last day of frost can be as late as May 18. Here in Charlotte, the average day of last frost is April 2nd with a standard deviation of 12 days. So technically (although rare) we may still get a frosty night as late as April 24th (source).
What I’ve done in the past is plant a few seeds of vegetables that are not frost hardy in late March / early April fully-aware that I may have to replant them if frost hits. Usually I get lucky but you never know. Vegetables that prefer to wait until the last frost date include tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and melons. With most of those vegetables you have the choice of starting seeds indoors or picking up premium vegetable plants at Blackhawk Hardware that are already a few inches tall and ready to be transplanted into your vegetable garden.
Then, there are vegetables that prefer a little warmer temperatures but you can start growing before the last day of frost. Those include all your cold season vegetables such as beets, carrots, radishes, lettuce, chard and the like. Now is the perfect time to pick up the seeds you are planning on using this spring. A good time to get them in the ground is March 1st and onward. Check the back of the seed pouches or ask our friendly associates for detailed planting instructions.
source: http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
The other item referenced on plant packages is often the hardiness zone. These zones refer to geographical areas grouped together by average minimum temperatures and other growing conditions. Most of Charlotte falls into zone 8a with lows of 10 to 15 (F). North of town you may fall into zone 7B. You can check the USDA website for your exact zone and average low temperatures.
