Zone 8a planting calendar
Warm, long season; many crops can overwinter with light protection.
Coldest temps10 to 15°F
Avg. last spring frostMar 22
Avg. first fall frostNov 18
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 8a →
The growing season in Zone 8a
Zone 8a has a coldest-winter range of 10 to 15°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 241 days — from the last spring frost around Mar 22 to the first fall frost around Nov 18. That is a very long, near year-round season — heat, not frost, is usually the limiting factor here, so time cool-season crops for the milder shoulders of the year.
The practical rhythm here is simple. Cool-season crops — peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and the brassicas — can go out around the last-frost date and again for a fall crop. Frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and basil wait until after Mar 22, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 241-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 8a
Every crop below is timed to Zone 8a's frost dates. Follow a crop link for its full growing profile across all zones, or open the interactive calendar for the month-by-month view.
| Crop | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Apr 5–Apr 12 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 7 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Sep 9–Sep 23 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 19 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Mar 1–Mar 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 12 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Feb 8–Mar 8 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 14 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Feb 8–Feb 22 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 26–Sep 23 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Feb 8–Mar 1 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Feb 8–Feb 22 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 14 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Aug 12–Sep 2 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Feb 8–Feb 22 Transplant outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Jan 11–Jan 25 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Oct 21–Nov 4 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Sep 9–Sep 23 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 21 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 12 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Apr 5–Apr 12 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 12 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 12 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 21 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Jan 11–Jan 25 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 7 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 7 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Feb 22–Mar 8 Direct sow outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Jan 11–Jan 25 Transplant outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Feb 8–Feb 22 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Aug 26–Sep 23 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 14 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 14 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Sep 9–Sep 23 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Apr 5–Apr 19 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 7 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Jan 11–Jan 25 Transplant outdoors Apr 5–Apr 19 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Jan 11–Jan 25 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Feb 22–Mar 8 Transplant outdoors Apr 5–Apr 12 Direct sow outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Feb 22–Mar 8 Transplant outdoors Apr 5–Apr 12 Direct sow outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Feb 8–Mar 1 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 8–Mar 1 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Feb 8–Feb 22 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Feb 22–Mar 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 12 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Feb 8–Mar 1 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Jan 11–Jan 25 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Feb 22–Mar 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 7 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Feb 8–Mar 8 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 7 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Feb 8–Feb 22 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Feb 8–Feb 22 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |