Zone 8a planting calendar
In zone 8a the last spring frost usually comes around March 29 and the first fall frost around November 7: about 224 frost-free days. Here is what to do each month.
Typical frost dates
- Last spring frost
- March 29 Middle half of the zone: Mar 24 – Apr 1. Over by Apr 14 in 9 of 10 years.
- First fall frost
- November 7 Middle half of the zone: Nov 3 – Nov 10. After Oct 25 in 9 of 10 years.
- Frost-free season
- about 224 days
- Coldest winter nights
- 10 to 15 °F
- ZIP codes in the zone
- 3,421
Most of its weather stations are in Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia and 14 more.
Places in zone 8a
Zones measure winter cold, so frost dates still vary from place to place. A few weather stations across the zone:
| Place | State | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caballo | New Mexico | Mar 25 | Nov 6 | 224 |
| Duncan | Oklahoma | Mar 25 | Nov 7 | 225 |
| Talladega | Alabama | Mar 26 | Nov 4 | 225 |
| Alicia | Arkansas | Mar 27 | Nov 5 | 224 |
| Mableton | Georgia | Mar 27 | Nov 7 | 225 |
| Greer | South Carolina | Mar 28 | Nov 7 | 224 |
| Albany | Texas | Mar 30 | Nov 8 | 225 |
| Jacksonville Eoc | North Carolina | Mar 31 | Nov 8 | 224 |
Month by month in zone 8a
Every job for all 60 crops, in the month it starts.
January
February
Start indoors
- Tomatoes Feb 1–15
- Tomatillos Feb 1–15
- Cabbage Feb 1–15
- Broccoli Feb 1–15
- Cauliflower Feb 1–15
- Chives Feb 1–15
- Basil Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Marigolds Feb 15 – Mar 1
March
Sow outside
- Shallots (shallot sets) Mar 1–15
- Collard greens Mar 1–22
- Kohlrabi Mar 1–22
- Turnips Mar 1–22
- Asparagus (asparagus crowns) Mar 1–22
- Rhubarb (rhubarb crowns) Mar 1–22
- Mustard greens Mar 1–29
- Potatoes (seed potatoes) Mar 1–29
- Lettuce Mar 1 – Apr 12
- Green onions Mar 1 – Apr 12
- Bok choy Mar 8–29
- Parsnips Mar 8 – Apr 5
- Carrots Mar 8 – Apr 12
- Beets Mar 8 – Apr 12
- Cilantro Mar 15 – Apr 12
- Swiss chard Mar 15 – Apr 19
- Dill Mar 22 – Apr 19
- Sunflowers Mar 29 – Apr 26
Plant out
- Cabbage Mar 1–15
- Onions Mar 1–15
- Strawberries (strawberry plants) Mar 1–22
- Broccoli Mar 8–29
- Leeks Mar 8 – Apr 5
- Chives Mar 8 – Apr 5
- Cauliflower Mar 15–29
- Parsley Mar 15 – Apr 12
- Thyme Mar 15 – Apr 12
- Mint Mar 15 – Apr 12
- Oregano Mar 22 – Apr 12
- Sage Mar 22 – Apr 12
- Rosemary Mar 29 – Apr 19
- Lavender Mar 29 – Apr 19
April
Sow outside
- Zucchini Apr 5–19
- Zinnias Apr 5–19
- Nasturtiums Apr 5–19
- Cosmos Apr 5–19
- Cucumbers Apr 5–26
- Winter squash Apr 5–26
- Pumpkins Apr 5–26
- Green beans Apr 5–26
- Sweet corn Apr 5–26
- Watermelons Apr 12–26
- Cantaloupes Apr 12–26
- Okra Apr 12 – May 3
Plant out
- Tomatoes Apr 5–19
- Tomatillos Apr 5–19
- Celery Apr 5–19
- Marigolds Apr 5–19
- Peppers Apr 12–26
- Hot peppers Apr 12–26
- Eggplant Apr 12–26
- Basil Apr 12–26
- Sweet potatoes (sweet potato slips) Apr 19 – May 10
Start picking
- Chives Apr 7 – Sep 22
- Turnips Apr 10 – May 21
- Lettuce Apr 10 – Jun 11
- Peas Apr 11 – May 17
- Kale Apr 11 – Sep 12
- Mint Apr 14 – Sep 29
- Kohlrabi Apr 15 – May 21
- Bok choy Apr 17 – May 23
- Collard greens Apr 25 – Aug 15
- Strawberries Apr 26 – May 24
- Beets Apr 27 – Jun 11
- Cilantro Apr 29 – Jun 21
- Parsley Apr 29 – Oct 14
- Thyme Apr 29 – Oct 14
- Cabbage Apr 30 – Jun 13
- Green onions Apr 30 – Jun 26
May
Start picking
- Dill May 1 – Jun 26
- Broccoli May 2 – Jun 17
- Swiss chard May 4 – Oct 19
- Marigolds (in bloom) May 5 – Sep 22
- Oregano May 6 – Sep 23
- Carrots May 7 – Jul 1
- Cauliflower May 9 – Jun 17
- Basil May 12 – Sep 15
- Potatoes May 15 – Jul 27
- Zucchini May 20 – Jul 29
- Nasturtiums (in bloom) May 20 – Sep 9
- Sage May 21 – Oct 22
- Green beans May 25 – Jul 6
- Cucumbers May 25 – Jul 20
- Lavender May 28 – Jul 23
- Rosemary May 28 – Nov 12
- Shallots May 30 – Jul 3
- Onions May 30 – Jul 13
- Garlic May 31 – Jun 21
June
Sow for fall
- Brussels sprouts Jun 13 – Jul 4
Start picking
- Okra Jun 1 – Sep 7
- Tomatoes Jun 4 – Sep 24
- Zinnias (in bloom) Jun 4 – Sep 24
- Cosmos (in bloom) Jun 4 – Sep 24
- Leeks Jun 6 – Oct 24
- Sunflowers (in bloom) Jun 7 – Aug 4
- Sweet corn Jun 9 – Jul 25
- Tomatillos Jun 9 – Aug 18
- Peppers Jun 11 – Sep 17
- Eggplant Jun 16 – Sep 8
- Cantaloupes Jun 21 – Jul 26
- Watermelons Jun 21 – Aug 4
- Hot peppers Jun 21 – Sep 27
- Winter squash Jun 24 – Sep 16
- Celery Jun 29 – Aug 24
July
Sow for fall
- Cabbage Jul 11 – Aug 8
- Cauliflower Jul 18 – Aug 8
- Broccoli Jul 18 – Aug 15
Start picking
- Pumpkins Jul 4 – Sep 12
- Sweet potatoes Jul 18 – Sep 12
August
Sow for fall
- Cucumbers Aug 8–22
- Green beans Aug 8–22
- Zucchini Aug 15–29
- Peas Aug 15–29
- Carrots Aug 15 – Sep 5
- Beets Aug 15 – Sep 5
- Kale Aug 15 – Sep 12
- Collard greens Aug 15 – Sep 12
- Green onions Aug 22 – Sep 5
- Cilantro Aug 29 – Sep 12
- Lettuce Aug 29 – Sep 19
- Kohlrabi Aug 29 – Sep 19
- Bok choy Aug 29 – Sep 19
- Spinach Aug 29 – Sep 26
- Turnips Aug 29 – Sep 26
September
Sow for fall
- Arugula Sep 5 – Oct 3
- Mustard greens Sep 5 – Oct 3
- Radishes Sep 19 – Oct 10
Start picking
- Cucumbers Sep 27 – Nov 7
- Green beans Sep 27 – Nov 7
- Zucchini Sep 29 – Nov 7
October
Sow for fall
- Garlic (garlic cloves) Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start picking
- Beets Oct 4 – Nov 8
- Arugula Oct 5 – Nov 12
- Mustard greens Oct 5 – Nov 17
- Cabbage Oct 7 – Dec 4
- Bok choy Oct 8 – Nov 13
- Spinach Oct 8 – Nov 15
- Lettuce Oct 8 – Nov 19
- Turnips Oct 8 – Nov 25
- Peas Oct 9 – Nov 7
- Cauliflower Oct 9 – Nov 21
- Broccoli Oct 9 – Dec 1
- Kale Oct 9 – Dec 19
- Collard greens Oct 9 – Dec 19
- Brussels sprouts Oct 11 – Dec 19
- Kohlrabi Oct 13 – Nov 18
- Cilantro Oct 13 – Nov 21
- Radishes Oct 14 – Nov 9
- Carrots Oct 14 – Nov 25
- Green onions Oct 21 – Dec 2
- Parsnips Oct 24 – Dec 19
November
Nothing to sow; clean and store the tools and note what grew well.
December
A month to rest the soil and plan next year.