Zone 8a planting schedule
Zone 8a covers places where the coldest night of an average winter falls between 10 to 15 °F. Here is what that means for frost dates and planting, month by month.
- Average winter low
- 10 to 15 °F
- Typical first frost
- Nov 7
- Last frost, most towns
- Mar 21 to Apr 1
- Frost-free season
- about 226 days
Middle values among the 234 towns of 10,000 people or more in zone 8a (our calculation, NOAA 1991-2020).
Where zone 8a is
Zone 8a towns are most common in North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia. Its biggest cities include Charlotte, NC; Washington, DC; Memphis, TN; Albuquerque, NM; Atlanta, GA. Because a zone is set only by winter cold, towns in it can have quite different springs: the middle half of them have their last frost between Mar 21 and Apr 1. Use your own town's dates when you can.
| City | Last frost | First frost | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | Mar 30 | Nov 3 | 221 d |
| Washington, DC | Mar 24 | Nov 18 | 241 d |
| Memphis, TN | Mar 16 | Nov 16 | 244 d |
| Albuquerque, NM | Apr 6 | Nov 3 | 208 d |
| Atlanta, GA | Mar 24 | Nov 8 | 231 d |
| Raleigh, NC | Mar 31 | Nov 4 | 219 d |
| Virginia Beach, VA | Mar 29 | Nov 12 | 230 d |
| Greensboro, NC | Apr 1 | Nov 4 | 217 d |
| Durham, NC | Mar 31 | Nov 4 | 219 d |
| Plano, TX | Mar 7 | Nov 21 | 259 d |
| Frisco, TX | Mar 18 | Nov 11 | 239 d |
| Huntsville, AL | Mar 24 | Nov 8 | 229 d |
Zone 8a planting calendar, month by month
Counted from the zone's typical frost dates. February is the busiest month for planting outside, with 29 crops going in. Each crop name links to its own page with the dates for your exact town.
| Month | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | First harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Marigolds, Herbs, Tomatoes, Peppers, Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, Eggplant, Parsley | Roses, Fruit Trees, Apple Trees, Cherry Trees | |
| February | Zinnias, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Swiss Chard, Okra, Basil | Strawberries, Wildflowers, Blueberries, Raspberries, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Lilies, Hostas, Herbs, Trees, Hydrangeas, Potatoes, Onions, Peas, Broccoli, Lettuce, Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Turnips, Leeks | |
| March | Sunflowers, Dahlias, Gladiolus, Summer Bulbs, Zinnias, Marigolds, Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Winter Squash, Cantaloupe, Sweet Corn, Green Beans, Cauliflower, Swiss Chard, Celery, Basil, Dill, Parsley | Radishes, Spinach, Turnips | |
| April | Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Eggplant, Okra, Sweet Potatoes | Potatoes, Peas, Broccoli, Lettuce, Carrots, Beets, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collard Greens, Bok Choy, Basil | |
| May | Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Sweet Corn, Green Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Swiss Chard, Leeks, Okra | ||
| June | Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Eggplant | ||
| July | Sweet Potatoes | ||
| August | Irises, Hostas, Herbs, Peas, Broccoli, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Green Beans, Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Turnips | ||
| September | Strawberries, Wildflowers, Lilies, Peonies, Trees, Hydrangeas, Garlic, Spinach, Arugula, Shallots | ||
| October | Daffodils, Tulips, Blueberries, Hyacinths, Crocus, Ornamental Alliums, Fruit Trees, Apple Trees, Crape Myrtles | ||
| November | Rhubarb | ||
| December | Onions, Leeks |
Fall plantings are listed with the month they go in. Ranges for each crop are on its page.
What grows well in zone 8a
With about 226 frost-free days, zone 8a grows warm-season crops for many months, and summer heat matters more than frost. Cool-season crops such as lettuce, broccoli and peas do best planted in late summer and fall and grown through the mild winter.
Zone and frost dates: our own calculation from NOAA NCEI records (Global Summary of the Year, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020); not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Crop timing: university extension guides, listed on each crop page.