Zone 8b planting calendar
Hot summers and mild winters; spring planting starts early.
Coldest temps15 to 20°F
Avg. last spring frostMar 15
Avg. first fall frostNov 25
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 8b →
The growing season in Zone 8b
Zone 8b has a coldest-winter range of 15 to 20°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 255 days — from the last spring frost around Mar 15 to the first fall frost around Nov 25. 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 15, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 255-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 8b
Every crop below is timed to Zone 8b'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 Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Mar 29 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Jan 11–Jan 25 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 14 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Sep 16–Sep 30 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Apr 12 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Feb 22–Mar 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Apr 5 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 21 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Sep 2–Sep 30 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Feb 22 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 19–Sep 9 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Oct 28–Nov 11 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 16–Sep 30 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 28 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Apr 5 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Apr 5 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Apr 5 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 28 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 14 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 14 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Feb 15–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 2–Sep 30 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 21 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 21 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Sep 16–Sep 30 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 14 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Feb 15–Mar 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Feb 15–Mar 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Mar 29 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 8–Feb 22 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 8–Feb 22 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Feb 8–Feb 22 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 22 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 22 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Feb 15–Mar 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Apr 5 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Feb 22 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Feb 15–Mar 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Mar 29 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 14 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 8 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 14 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Mar 29 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |