USDA zone 8a planting guide
A typical location in zone 8a sees its last spring frost around March 29 and its first fall frost around November 7. Pick a crop for its zone 8a planting dates, or get dates for your exact ZIP.
The zone 8a planting year
When to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each crop in a typical zone 8alocation. Tap a crop for its full guide.
Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall plantingHarvest
Tap a crop for exact dates
Crop
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecNow
Swipe the calendar sideways · tap a crop for exact dates
| Crop | Activity | When |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Start indoors | February 15 – February 22 |
| Tomato | Transplant | March 29 – April 12 |
| Pepper | Start indoors | February 1 |
| Pepper | Transplant | March 29 – April 12 |
| Eggplant | Start indoors | February 1 |
| Eggplant | Transplant | March 29 – April 12 |
| Potato | Direct sow | March 8 – March 15 |
| Cucumber | Start indoors | March 1 |
| Cucumber | Transplant | March 29 – April 12 |
| Cucumber | Direct sow | March 29 – April 12 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow | March 29 – April 12 |
| Zucchini | Harvest | May 23 – June 6 (About 55 to 55 days from sowing.) |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow | March 29 – April 12 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow | March 29 – April 12 |
| Pumpkin | Harvest | June 7 – August 10 (About 70 to 120 days from sowing.) |
| Watermelon | Transplant | March 29 – April 12 |
| Watermelon | Direct sow | March 29 – April 12 |
| Watermelon | Harvest | June 22 – July 11 (About 85 to 90 days from transplanting.) |
| Cantaloupe | Transplant | March 29 – April 12 |
| Cantaloupe | Direct sow | March 29 – April 12 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow | March 29 – April 12 |
| Sweet Corn | Harvest | May 28 – July 11 (About 60 to 90 days from sowing.) |
| Broccoli | Start indoors | January 18 – February 1 |
| Broccoli | Transplant | March 8 – March 15 |
| Broccoli | Direct sow | March 8 – March 15 |
| Cauliflower | Start indoors | January 25 – February 8 |
| Cauliflower | Transplant | March 15 – March 22 |
| Cauliflower | Direct sow | March 15 – March 22 |
| Cauliflower | Fall planting | August 29 – October 3 |
| Cabbage | Start indoors | January 18 – February 1 |
| Cabbage | Transplant | March 8 – March 15 |
| Cabbage | Direct sow | March 8 – March 15 |
| Cabbage | Fall planting | August 29 – October 3 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Fall planting | July 11 |
| Kale | Start indoors | January 11 – January 25 |
| Kale | Transplant | February 22 – March 1 |
| Kale | Direct sow | February 22 – March 1 |
| Kale | Fall planting | September 5 – October 10 |
| Collards | Start indoors | February 1 |
| Collards | Transplant | March 15 |
| Collards | Direct sow | March 8 |
| Collards | Harvest | May 7 – May 27 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.) |
| Collards | Fall planting | August 8 |
| Lettuce | Start indoors | February 15 – February 22 |
| Lettuce | Transplant | March 29 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow | March 8 – March 15 |
| Lettuce | Fall planting | August 8 – September 12 |
| Spinach | Start indoors | February 15 – February 22 |
| Spinach | Transplant | March 29 |
| Spinach | Direct sow | March 1 – March 8 |
| Spinach | Fall planting | August 29 – October 3 |
| Swiss Chard | Start indoors | February 15 – February 22 |
| Swiss Chard | Transplant | March 29 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow | March 1 – March 8 |
| Swiss Chard | Fall planting | October 10 – October 17 |
| Carrot | Direct sow | March 8 – March 15 |
| Carrot | Harvest | May 17 – June 23 (About 70 to 100 days from sowing.) |
| Radish | Direct sow | March 8 – March 15 |
| Radish | Harvest | April 2 – April 29 (About 25 to 45 days from sowing.) |
| Beet | Direct sow | March 8 – March 15 |
| Beet | Harvest | May 7 – June 3 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.) |
| Parsnip | Direct sow | March 8 – March 15 |
| Parsnip | Harvest | June 16 – July 13 (About 100 to 120 days from sowing.) |
| Garlic | Fall planting | November 14 – November 21 |
| Green Bean (Snap Bean) | Direct sow | March 22 |
| Green Bean (Snap Bean) | Harvest | May 11 – May 21 (About 50 to 60 days from sowing.) |
| Basil | Start indoors | February 1 – February 15 |
| Basil | Direct sow | March 29 |
| Parsley | Start indoors | February 1 – February 15 |
| Parsley | Direct sow | March 29 |
| Dill | Direct sow | March 29 |
| Rhubarb | Start indoors | February 15 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow | March 29 – April 12 |
| Marigold | Start indoors | February 15 – March 1 |
| Marigold | Transplant | March 29 – April 12 |
| Marigold | Direct sow | March 29 – April 12 |
| Petunia | Start indoors | January 18 – February 1 |
| Petunia | Transplant | March 29 – April 12 |
| Dahlia | Transplant | March 29 – April 12 |
| English Lavender | Transplant | March 29 – April 12 |
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service / Oregon State University PRISM Group. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Zone dates are medians across the zone; your town varies.