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Sprout Authority

USDA zone 8b planting guide

A typical location in zone 8b sees its last spring frost around March 17 and its first fall frost around November 14. Pick a crop for its zone 8b planting dates, or get dates for your exact ZIP.

The zone 8b planting year

When to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each crop in a typical zone 8blocation. Tap a crop for its full guide.

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall plantingHarvest
Planting calendar for Zone 8b typical: sow, transplant, and harvest windows by crop.
CropActivityWhen
TomatoStart indoorsFebruary 3 – February 10
TomatoTransplantMarch 17 – March 31
PepperStart indoorsJanuary 20
PepperTransplantMarch 17 – March 31
EggplantStart indoorsJanuary 20
EggplantTransplantMarch 17 – March 31
PotatoDirect sowFebruary 24 – March 3
CucumberStart indoorsFebruary 17
CucumberTransplantMarch 17 – March 31
CucumberDirect sowMarch 17 – March 31
ZucchiniDirect sowMarch 17 – March 31
ZucchiniHarvestMay 11 – May 25 (About 55 to 55 days from sowing.)
Winter SquashDirect sowMarch 17 – March 31
PumpkinDirect sowMarch 17 – March 31
PumpkinHarvestMay 26 – July 29 (About 70 to 120 days from sowing.)
WatermelonTransplantMarch 17 – March 31
WatermelonDirect sowMarch 17 – March 31
WatermelonHarvestJune 10 – June 29 (About 85 to 90 days from transplanting.)
CantaloupeTransplantMarch 17 – March 31
CantaloupeDirect sowMarch 17 – March 31
Sweet CornDirect sowMarch 17 – March 31
Sweet CornHarvestMay 16 – June 29 (About 60 to 90 days from sowing.)
BroccoliStart indoorsJanuary 6 – January 20
BroccoliTransplantFebruary 24 – March 3
BroccoliDirect sowFebruary 24 – March 3
CauliflowerStart indoorsJanuary 13 – January 27
CauliflowerTransplantMarch 3 – March 10
CauliflowerDirect sowMarch 3 – March 10
CauliflowerFall plantingSeptember 5 – October 10
CabbageStart indoorsJanuary 6 – January 20
CabbageTransplantFebruary 24 – March 3
CabbageDirect sowFebruary 24 – March 3
CabbageFall plantingSeptember 5 – October 10
Brussels SproutsFall plantingJuly 18
KaleStart indoorsDecember 30 – January 13
KaleTransplantFebruary 10 – February 17
KaleDirect sowFebruary 10 – February 17
KaleFall plantingSeptember 12 – October 17
CollardsStart indoorsJanuary 20
CollardsTransplantMarch 3
CollardsDirect sowFebruary 24
CollardsHarvestApril 25 – May 15 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.)
CollardsFall plantingAugust 15
LettuceStart indoorsFebruary 3 – February 10
LettuceTransplantMarch 17
LettuceDirect sowFebruary 24 – March 3
LettuceFall plantingAugust 15 – September 19
SpinachStart indoorsFebruary 3 – February 10
SpinachTransplantMarch 17
SpinachDirect sowFebruary 17 – February 24
SpinachFall plantingSeptember 5 – October 10
Swiss ChardStart indoorsFebruary 3 – February 10
Swiss ChardTransplantMarch 17
Swiss ChardDirect sowFebruary 17 – February 24
Swiss ChardFall plantingOctober 17 – October 24
CarrotDirect sowFebruary 24 – March 3
CarrotHarvestMay 5 – June 11 (About 70 to 100 days from sowing.)
RadishDirect sowFebruary 24 – March 3
RadishHarvestMarch 21 – April 17 (About 25 to 45 days from sowing.)
BeetDirect sowFebruary 24 – March 3
BeetHarvestApril 25 – May 22 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.)
ParsnipDirect sowFebruary 24 – March 3
ParsnipHarvestJune 4 – July 1 (About 100 to 120 days from sowing.)
GarlicFall plantingNovember 21 – November 28
Green Bean (Snap Bean)Direct sowMarch 10
Green Bean (Snap Bean)HarvestApril 29 – May 9 (About 50 to 60 days from sowing.)
BasilStart indoorsJanuary 20 – February 3
BasilDirect sowMarch 17
ParsleyStart indoorsJanuary 20 – February 3
ParsleyDirect sowMarch 17
DillDirect sowMarch 17
RhubarbStart indoorsFebruary 3
SunflowerDirect sowMarch 17 – March 31
MarigoldStart indoorsFebruary 3 – February 17
MarigoldTransplantMarch 17 – March 31
MarigoldDirect sowMarch 17 – March 31
PetuniaStart indoorsJanuary 6 – January 20
PetuniaTransplantMarch 17 – March 31
DahliaTransplantMarch 17 – March 31
English LavenderTransplantMarch 17 – March 31

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.