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Zone 8a planting calendar and frost dates

In USDA hardiness zone 8a, the average last spring frost is Mar 27 and the average first fall frost is Nov 7, leaving about 224 frost-free days. To be 90% sure of no later frost, wait until about Apr 13 to plant tender crops. These are medians of 92 NOAA weather stations in zone 8a; their last-frost dates range from Mar 16 to May 6.

What to plant each month in zone 8a

January

Tomatoes (start indoors), Bell peppers (start indoors), Kale (start indoors), Broccoli (start indoors), Cauliflower (start indoors), Cabbage (start indoors), Brussels sprouts (start indoors), Onions (start indoors), Basil (start indoors), Sage (start indoors), Lavender (start indoors), Begonias (start indoors), Coleus (start indoors), Marigolds (start indoors), Foxglove (start indoors), Coneflowers (start indoors), Bee balm (start indoors)

February

Potatoes (plant), Watermelon (start indoors), Peas (plant), Lettuce (start indoors), Lettuce (plant), Spinach (plant), Kale (plant), Cabbage (plant), Beets (plant), Radishes (plant), Onions (plant), Asparagus (plant), Strawberries (plant), Blueberries (plant), Blackberries (plant), Dahlias (start indoors), Caladiums (start indoors), Rose bushes (plant), Wildflower seeds (plant)

March

Broccoli (plant), Cauliflower (plant), Brussels sprouts (plant), Carrots (plant), Cilantro (plant), Dill (plant), Sage (plant), Borage (plant), Catmint (plant), Gladiolus (plant), Marigolds (plant), Cosmos (plant), Mums (plant), Hydrangeas (plant), Foxglove (plant), Coneflowers (plant), Bee balm (plant), Hostas (plant), Sedum (plant)

April

Tomatoes (plant), Bell peppers (plant), Pumpkins (plant), Cucumbers (plant), Okra (plant), Zucchini (plant), Watermelon (plant), Green beans (plant), Sweet corn (plant), Sweet potatoes (plant), Basil (plant), Lavender (plant), Dahlias (plant), Caladiums (plant), Begonias (plant), Coleus (plant), Zinnias (plant), Sunflowers (plant), Lantana (plant), Jasmine (plant), Grass seed (plant)

July

Brussels sprouts (plant for fall)

August

Green beans (plant for fall), Peas (plant for fall), Kale (plant for fall), Broccoli (plant for fall), Cauliflower (plant for fall), Cabbage (plant for fall), Carrots (plant for fall), Beets (plant for fall), Lavender (plant for fall), Iris (plant)

September

Lettuce (plant for fall), Spinach (plant for fall), Radishes (plant for fall), Cilantro (plant for fall), Sage (plant for fall), Catmint (plant for fall), Strawberries (plant for fall), Blueberries (plant for fall), Mums (plant for fall), Hydrangeas (plant for fall), Rose bushes (plant for fall), Peonies (plant), Foxglove (plant for fall), Coneflowers (plant for fall), Bee balm (plant for fall), Hostas (plant for fall), Sedum (plant for fall), Grass seed (plant for fall)

October

Tulips (plant), Daffodils (plant)

November

Garlic (plant), Wildflower seeds (plant for fall)

Zone 8a planting dates for every plant

PlantStart indoorsPlant outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesJan 30 – Feb 13Apr 3 – Apr 17–
Bell peppersJan 16 – Jan 30Apr 10 – Apr 24–
Potatoes–Feb 27 – Mar 20–
Pumpkins–Apr 3 – Apr 17–
Cucumbers–Apr 3 – Apr 17–
Okra–Apr 10 – May 1–
Zucchini–Apr 3 – Apr 17–
WatermelonFeb 27 – Mar 6Apr 10 – Apr 24–
Green beans–Apr 3 – Apr 17Aug 22 – Sep 5
Sweet corn–Apr 3 – Apr 17–
Sweet potatoes–Apr 17 – May 1–
Peas–Feb 13 – Mar 6Aug 15 – Sep 5
LettuceFeb 13 – Feb 27Feb 27 – Mar 20Sep 12 – Oct 3
Spinach–Feb 13 – Mar 6Sep 12 – Oct 3
KaleJan 30 – Feb 13Feb 20 – Mar 13Aug 15 – Sep 5
BroccoliJan 30 – Feb 13Mar 6 – Mar 20Aug 8 – Aug 29
CauliflowerJan 30 – Feb 13Mar 13 – Mar 27Aug 8 – Aug 29
CabbageJan 30 – Feb 13Feb 27 – Mar 13Aug 1 – Aug 22
Brussels sproutsJan 30 – Feb 13Mar 6 – Mar 20Jul 18 – Aug 8
Carrots–Mar 6 – Mar 27Aug 15 – Aug 29
Beets–Feb 27 – Mar 20Aug 29 – Sep 12
Radishes–Feb 13 – Mar 13Sep 26 – Oct 10
OnionsJan 16 – Jan 30Feb 27 – Mar 13–
Garlic––Nov 7 – Dec 5
Asparagus–Feb 27 – Mar 20–
BasilJan 30 – Feb 13Apr 3 – Apr 17–
Cilantro–Mar 13 – Apr 3Sep 12 – Oct 10
Dill–Mar 27 – Apr 10–
SageJan 30 – Feb 13Mar 27 – Apr 17Sep 12 – Sep 26
LavenderJan 2 – Jan 16Apr 3 – Apr 24Aug 29 – Sep 12
Borage–Mar 27 – Apr 10–
Catmint–Mar 27 – Apr 17Sep 12 – Sep 26
Strawberries–Feb 27 – Mar 20Sep 26 – Oct 10
Blueberries–Feb 27 – Mar 20Sep 12 – Oct 10
Blackberries–Feb 27 – Mar 20–
Tulips––Oct 24 – Dec 5
Daffodils––Oct 10 – Nov 21
Gladiolus–Mar 27 – Apr 10–
DahliasFeb 13 – Feb 27Apr 3 – Apr 17–
CaladiumsFeb 13 – Feb 27Apr 17 – May 1–
BegoniasJan 2 – Jan 30Apr 3 – Apr 17–
ColeusJan 16 – Jan 30Apr 10 – Apr 24–
MarigoldsJan 30 – Feb 13Mar 27 – Apr 10–
Zinnias–Apr 3 – Apr 17–
Sunflowers–Apr 3 – Apr 17–
Cosmos–Mar 27 – Apr 10–
Mums–Mar 27 – Apr 17Sep 12 – Sep 26
Lantana–Apr 10 – Apr 24–
Hydrangeas–Mar 27 – Apr 10Sep 12 – Sep 26
Rose bushes–Feb 27 – Mar 27Sep 12 – Sep 26
Peonies––Sep 26 – Nov 7
Iris––Aug 29 – Sep 26
FoxgloveJan 16 – Jan 30Mar 13 – Apr 3Sep 12 – Sep 26
ConeflowersJan 16 – Jan 30Mar 27 – Apr 17Sep 12 – Sep 26
Bee balmJan 16 – Jan 30Mar 27 – Apr 17Sep 12 – Sep 26
Hostas–Mar 13 – Apr 10Sep 26 – Oct 10
Sedum–Mar 27 – Apr 17Sep 12 – Sep 26
Jasmine–Apr 10 – Apr 24–
Wildflower seeds–Feb 27 – Mar 20Nov 7 – Dec 19
Grass seed–Apr 24 – May 22Sep 5 – Sep 26

Places in zone 8a

Weather stations used for this zone include Abilene, TX; Albuquerque, NM; Altus, OK; Anderson, SC; Annapolis Naf, MD; Annette Island, AK; Anniston Metro, AL; Atlanta, GA; Atlanta Fulton, GA; Atlanta Peachtree, GA; Atlantic, NJ; Big Spring, TX; Birmingham, AL; Blue Canyon, CA; Blytheville, AR; Bronte 11 Nne, TX; Burlington Alamance, NC; Cape Charles 5 Ene, VA; Carlsbad Cavern, NM; Cartersville, GA; Centreville 6 Sw, AL; Chapel Hill Williams, NC; Charlotte Douglas, NC; Chattanooga Lovell, TN and 68 more.

Zone 8a frost dates by state: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Georgia · Maryland · Mississippi · New Jersey · New Mexico · North Carolina · Oklahoma · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Virginia · Washington

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