Zone 8b planting calendar
In zone 8b the last spring frost usually comes around March 17 and the first fall frost around November 13: about 241 frost-free days. Here is what to do each month.
Typical frost dates
- Last spring frost
- March 17 Middle half of the zone: Mar 10 – Mar 24. Over by Apr 6 in 9 of 10 years.
- First fall frost
- November 13 Middle half of the zone: Nov 9 – Nov 19. After Oct 30 in 9 of 10 years.
- Frost-free season
- about 241 days
- Coldest winter nights
- 15 to 20 °F
- ZIP codes in the zone
- 3,375
Most of its weather stations are in Texas, Oregon, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Georgia and 11 more.
Places in zone 8b
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | Mississippi | Mar 15 | Nov 11 | 241 |
| Coupeville | Washington | Mar 17 | Nov 11 | 237 |
| Camden | Alabama | Mar 18 | Nov 11 | 241 |
| Cooper | Texas | Mar 18 | Nov 13 | 241 |
| Aiken | South Carolina | Mar 19 | Nov 14 | 241 |
| Sandersville | Georgia | Mar 19 | Nov 13 | 241 |
| Wilmington | North Carolina | Mar 20 | Nov 15 | 241 |
| Rex | Oregon | Mar 21 | Nov 22 | 241 |
Month by month in zone 8b
Every job for all 60 crops, in the month it starts.
January
Start indoors
- Peppers Jan 6–20
- Hot peppers Jan 6–20
- Eggplant Jan 6–20
- Onions Jan 6–20
- Parsley Jan 6–20
- Tomatoes Jan 20 – Feb 3
- Tomatillos Jan 20 – Feb 3
- Cabbage Jan 20 – Feb 3
- Broccoli Jan 20 – Feb 3
- Cauliflower Jan 20 – Feb 3
- Chives Jan 20 – Feb 3
February
Sow outside
- Peas Feb 3–24
- Spinach Feb 3 – Mar 3
- Kale Feb 3 – Mar 3
- Arugula Feb 10 – Mar 10
- Radishes Feb 10 – Mar 24
- Shallots (shallot sets) Feb 17 – Mar 3
- Collard greens Feb 17 – Mar 10
- Kohlrabi Feb 17 – Mar 10
- Turnips Feb 17 – Mar 10
- Asparagus (asparagus crowns) Feb 17 – Mar 10
- Rhubarb (rhubarb crowns) Feb 17 – Mar 10
- Mustard greens Feb 17 – Mar 17
- Potatoes (seed potatoes) Feb 17 – Mar 17
- Lettuce Feb 17 – Mar 31
- Green onions Feb 17 – Mar 31
- Bok choy Feb 24 – Mar 17
- Parsnips Feb 24 – Mar 24
- Carrots Feb 24 – Mar 31
- Beets Feb 24 – Mar 31
March
Sow outside
- Cilantro Mar 3–31
- Swiss chard Mar 3 – Apr 7
- Dill Mar 10 – Apr 7
- Sunflowers Mar 17 – Apr 14
- Zucchini Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Zinnias Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Nasturtiums Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Cosmos Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Cucumbers Mar 24 – Apr 14
- Winter squash Mar 24 – Apr 14
- Pumpkins Mar 24 – Apr 14
- Green beans Mar 24 – Apr 14
- Sweet corn Mar 24 – Apr 14
- Watermelons Mar 31 – Apr 14
- Cantaloupes Mar 31 – Apr 14
- Okra Mar 31 – Apr 21
Plant out
- Cauliflower Mar 3–17
- Parsley Mar 3–31
- Thyme Mar 3–31
- Mint Mar 3–31
- Oregano Mar 10–31
- Sage Mar 10–31
- Rosemary Mar 17 – Apr 7
- Lavender Mar 17 – Apr 7
- Tomatoes Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Tomatillos Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Celery Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Marigolds Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Peppers Mar 31 – Apr 14
- Hot peppers Mar 31 – Apr 14
- Eggplant Mar 31 – Apr 14
- Basil Mar 31 – Apr 14
April
Plant out
- Sweet potatoes (sweet potato slips) Apr 7–28
Start picking
- Mint Apr 2 – Sep 17
- Kohlrabi Apr 3 – May 9
- Bok choy Apr 5 – May 11
- Collard greens Apr 13 – Aug 3
- Strawberries Apr 14 – May 12
- Beets Apr 15 – May 30
- Cilantro Apr 17 – Jun 9
- Parsley Apr 17 – Oct 2
- Thyme Apr 17 – Oct 2
- Cabbage Apr 18 – Jun 1
- Green onions Apr 18 – Jun 14
- Dill Apr 19 – Jun 14
- Broccoli Apr 20 – Jun 5
- Swiss chard Apr 22 – Oct 7
- Marigolds (in bloom) Apr 23 – Sep 10
- Oregano Apr 24 – Sep 11
- Carrots Apr 25 – Jun 19
- Cauliflower Apr 27 – Jun 5
- Basil Apr 30 – Sep 3
May
Start picking
- Potatoes May 3 – Jul 15
- Zucchini May 8 – Jul 17
- Nasturtiums (in bloom) May 8 – Aug 28
- Sage May 9 – Oct 10
- Green beans May 13 – Jun 24
- Cucumbers May 13 – Jul 8
- Lavender May 16 – Jul 11
- Rosemary May 16 – Oct 31
- Shallots May 18 – Jun 21
- Onions May 18 – Jul 1
- Garlic May 19 – Jun 9
- Okra May 20 – Aug 26
- Tomatoes May 23 – Sep 12
- Zinnias (in bloom) May 23 – Sep 12
- Cosmos (in bloom) May 23 – Sep 12
- Leeks May 25 – Oct 12
- Sunflowers (in bloom) May 26 – Jul 23
- Sweet corn May 28 – Jul 13
- Tomatillos May 28 – Aug 6
- Peppers May 30 – Sep 5
June
Sow for fall
- Brussels sprouts Jun 19 – Jul 10
Start picking
- Eggplant Jun 4 – Aug 27
- Cantaloupes Jun 9 – Jul 14
- Watermelons Jun 9 – Jul 23
- Hot peppers Jun 9 – Sep 15
- Winter squash Jun 12 – Sep 4
- Celery Jun 17 – Aug 12
- Pumpkins Jun 22 – Aug 31
July
Sow for fall
- Cabbage Jul 17 – Aug 14
- Cauliflower Jul 24 – Aug 14
- Broccoli Jul 24 – Aug 21
Start picking
- Sweet potatoes Jul 6 – Aug 31
August
Sow for fall
- Cucumbers Aug 14–28
- Green beans Aug 14–28
- Zucchini Aug 21 – Sep 4
- Peas Aug 21 – Sep 4
- Carrots Aug 21 – Sep 11
- Beets Aug 21 – Sep 11
- Kale Aug 21 – Sep 18
- Collard greens Aug 21 – Sep 18
- Green onions Aug 28 – Sep 11
September
October
Sow for fall
- Garlic (garlic cloves) Oct 30 – Dec 4
Start picking
- Cucumbers Oct 3 – Nov 13
- Green beans Oct 3 – Nov 13
- Zucchini Oct 5 – Nov 13
- Beets Oct 10 – Nov 14
- Arugula Oct 11 – Nov 18
- Mustard greens Oct 11 – Nov 23
- Cabbage Oct 13 – Dec 10
- Bok choy Oct 14 – Nov 19
- Spinach Oct 14 – Nov 21
- Lettuce Oct 14 – Nov 25
- Turnips Oct 14 – Dec 1
- Peas Oct 15 – Nov 13
- Cauliflower Oct 15 – Nov 27
- Broccoli Oct 15 – Dec 7
- Kale Oct 15 – Dec 25
- Collard greens Oct 15 – Dec 25
- Brussels sprouts Oct 17 – Dec 25
- Kohlrabi Oct 19 – Nov 24
- Cilantro Oct 19 – Nov 27
- Radishes Oct 20 – Nov 15
- Carrots Oct 20 – Dec 1
- Green onions Oct 27 – Dec 8
- Parsnips Oct 30 – Dec 25
November
Nothing to sow; clean and store the tools and note what grew well.