Zone 8 Planting Schedule: Vegetable Calendar for 8a and 8b

Your zone is a winter low, not a planting date. The USDA zone map rates the average coldest winter night, which tells you which perennials survive. Planting dates come from frost, so the dates below use NOAA frost normals at five zone 8 stations. For yours, enter your ZIP in our frost date calculator; the rules in the crop table let you shift any row.

Last and first frost in zone 8

These are NOAA 1991-2020 normals for a 32 F night at five airports, each the weather station nearest a ZIP that the 2023 USDA map puts in zone 8. Each date is a median: in about half of years the last spring frost comes later. The 1 year in 10 column is the date after which a spring frost comes in only 1 year in 10.

Zone 8 median: last frost Mar 21 (Birmingham, AL), first frost Nov 11 (Birmingham, AL); 235 frost-free days, the middle of the five in the table. Every date below counts from these two. Inside one zone the last frost still spans Mar 8 to Apr 29, about 7 weeks, and the first frost Oct 14 to Nov 24, which is why your ZIP beats your zone: enter it in our frost date calculator for the station nearest you.

The zone line does not sort frost dates either: Olympia, WA, in zone 8a, has its median last frost on Apr 29, 29 days later (our count) than Nashville, TN, in zone 7b (Mar 31).

Zone 8 planting dates by crop

Dates for 31 vegetables at the zone 8 median. The last column is the rule behind each row, in weeks from frost, so you can move any row to your own frost dates. Crop names link to the full growing guide.

In southern zone 8, the extension calendars in the summer heat section below sow none of beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach and turnips from Jun 1 to Jul 15, while some rows here run through summer; there, go by the calendar for your area.

Frost-tender crops (basil, cantaloupe, cucumbers, edamame, eggplant, lima beans, okra, peppers, pumpkins, snap beans, summer squash, sweet corn, tomatoes and winter squash) are never dated before the median last frost, even where a source allows a week earlier: at the median, a later frost still comes in half of years. Their last planting also leaves their shortest days to maturity before the median first frost, so it can still ripen (eggplant 100 days, where the source says 14 weeks before first frost). "Our count" is the University of Maryland rule: days to maturity plus 10 to 14 days, back from the first fall frost. "From" means the source gives an opening date and no closing one.

Summer heat in zone 8: a gap in the South, none west of the Cascades

Zone 8 runs from the Gulf South to Puget Sound, and summer heat splits it. The extension calendars for Georgia, central Alabama, the South Carolina Piedmont and Dallas County stop sowing cool-season crops in spring and start again in mid to late summer: none of them plants beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach and turnips between Jun 1 and Jul 15. West of the Cascades there is no such gap; Washington State and Oregon State sow or set out beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, radishes, spinach and turnips in those weeks. So the summer heat rule is for southern zone 8 (Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Birmingham, Charlotte), not for Olympia.

The southern calendars say why. Clemson says high summer temperatures make lettuce bolt and turn bitter, and that soil above 85 F keeps spinach seed from sprouting. Dallas County Master Gardeners say many cool-season seeds will not sprout until the soil cools, so August starts the switch from warm-season to cool-season planting. West of the Cascades, where WSU describes summers as generally cool, its Skagit County office still warns that spring-sown cool crops bolt once the air warms: heat limits them there too, as bolting, not as a gap in sowing.

Fall planting and shade in the South. UGA names two main planting periods for Georgia, spring (March to May) and fall (mid July to September), and starts broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards and kale plants in a half-shaded spot for setting out in September. Texas A&M grows fall transplants in full sun with shade after 3 p.m. and keeps them well watered through late summer. Alabama Extension soaks the garden once a week in long dry spells rather than sprinkling daily.

Zone 8 vegetable planting calendar, month by month

Each month lists what you can start indoors, set out, sow outdoors and begin to harvest at the zone 8 median. A crop shows in every month its window touches; (fall) marks a fall sowing and (from) a window with an opening date only.

This month list follows the frost rules. In southern zone 8 the calendars in the summer heat section above sow none of beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach and turnips from Jun 1 to Jul 15.

Harvest begins is our count: each planting date plus the shortest days to maturity its source gives, so a crop shows from its earliest possible first picking. Frost-tender crops stop at the first fall frost.

What to plant this month in zone 8

What opens and what closes each month at the zone 8 median. Windows that stay open all month are in the calendar above. These notes follow the frost rules too; in southern zone 8, the calendars above sow none of beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach and turnips from Jun 1 to Jul 15.

What to plant in January in zone 8

Starts: start kale indoors from Jan 3; start eggplant and lettuce indoors from Jan 10; start basil, cauliflower, okra, peppers and tomatoes indoors from Jan 24. Last call: start kale indoors by Jan 17; start lettuce indoors by Jan 24; start cauliflower indoors by Jan 31.

What to plant in February in zone 8

Starts: start cilantro indoors from Feb 7; set out broccoli and cabbage from Feb 7; sow peas, radishes, rutabagas, spinach and turnips outdoors from Feb 7; set out kale from Feb 14; sow kale outdoors from Feb 14; start cantaloupe, radicchio and winter squash indoors from Feb 21; start cucumbers, pumpkins, summer squash and sweet corn indoors on Feb 21; set out or sow lettuce from Feb 21; sow arugula, beets, carrots, radicchio and Swiss chard outdoors from Feb 21; set out cauliflower from Feb 28. Last call: start basil, eggplant, okra, peppers and tomatoes indoors by Feb 7; start cilantro indoors by Feb 21; start cantaloupe, radicchio and winter squash indoors by Feb 28. First harvests can start: radishes.

What to plant in March in zone 8

Starts: sow potatoes outdoors from Mar 14; set out basil, cilantro, eggplant, peppers, radicchio and tomatoes from Mar 21; set out or sow cantaloupe, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, summer squash, sweet corn and winter squash from Mar 21; sow basil, cilantro, edamame, lima beans and snap beans outdoors from Mar 21. First harvests can start: arugula, lettuce and spinach.

What to plant in April in zone 8

Last call: sow kale outdoors by Apr 4; set out or sow sweet corn by Apr 11; sow peas outdoors by Apr 11. First harvests can start: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, peas, Swiss chard and turnips.

What to plant in May in zone 8

Last call: sow spinach outdoors by May 3. First harvests can start: basil, cilantro, cucumbers, okra, peppers, radicchio, rutabagas, snap beans, summer squash, sweet corn, tomatoes and winter squash.

What to plant in June in zone 8

Last call: sow turnips outdoors by Jun 21. First harvests can start: cantaloupe, edamame, eggplant, lima beans, potatoes, pumpkins, radicchio and winter squash.

What to plant in July in zone 8

Last call: set out peppers and tomatoes by Jul 15; sow potatoes outdoors by Jul 15; set out or sow cantaloupe and okra by Jul 22; sow rutabagas outdoors by Jul 22; set out or sow pumpkins by Jul 29.

What to plant in August in zone 8

Starts: sow fall peas on Aug 19. Last call: set out eggplant by Aug 3; set out broccoli and cauliflower by Aug 5; set out cabbage by Aug 12; set out or sow winter squash by Aug 12; sow carrots outdoors by Aug 12; set out or sow cucumbers by Aug 19; sow lima beans and snap beans outdoors by Aug 19; sow edamame outdoors by Aug 23.

What to plant in September in zone 8

Starts: sow fall kale from Sep 3; sow fall radicchio from Sep 8; sow fall spinach and turnips from Sep 16; sow fall radishes on Sep 23. Last call: set out or sow summer squash by Sep 2; sow basil outdoors by Sep 2; sow fall kale by Sep 7; sow beets outdoors by Sep 16; sow cilantro outdoors by Sep 22; sow fall radicchio by Sep 25; set out or sow lettuce by Sep 30; sow Swiss chard outdoors by Sep 30; sow fall spinach and turnips by Sep 30.

What to plant in October in zone 8

Last call: sow arugula outdoors by Oct 12. First harvests can start: kale, peas, radishes and spinach.

What to plant in November in zone 8

First harvests can start: radicchio and turnips.

What to plant in December in zone 8

Starts: start broccoli and cabbage indoors from Dec 13. Last call: start broccoli and cabbage indoors by Dec 27.

How we worked out these dates

• Stations, not the zone, set the dates. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map rates places by the average coldest winter night (1991-2020); it says nothing about frost dates. We picked five airports whose ZIPs the USDA map puts in zone 8, both halves of the zone included, and took their NOAA 1991-2020 normal dates for a 32 F night at 50 percent probability.
• One date per zone. The zone date is the median of the five stations: the middle value, so it is a real station's date. Last frost Mar 21 (Birmingham, AL); first frost Nov 11 (Birmingham, AL).
• Crop rules. Every crop date is our frost calculator's output for those two dates, using each crop's rule from Montana State University's MontGuide or the source our crop guide uses. Indoor starts count the weeks to transplant size back from the set-out date, both ends, as MontGuide does.
• Harvest. Harvest begins is our count: each planting date plus the shortest days to maturity the source gives. It is timing only; we make no promise about how much a crop gives.
• Your garden. A low spot, a cold spring or a variety with other days to maturity moves these dates. The frost date calculator gives the dates at the NOAA station nearest your ZIP.

Where the sources disagree

The crop table follows one rule per crop. Other extension services and seed companies time some crops differently:

• Peppers and tomatoes indoors. The table starts both 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, as Clemson does. Maryland starts pepper seed 8 to 10 weeks before the frost-free date, and some types need 12. For tomatoes, Minnesota and Johnny's count 5 to 6 weeks back from the day the plants go outside.
• Cucumbers and melons. The table opens both at the median last frost. Utah State plants cucumbers once the soil is 65 F; Minnesota and Johnny's wait for 70 F. Minnesota sows melon seed 1 week to 10 days before the last frost if the soil is warm enough, while Johnny's sows 1 to 2 weeks after it, in soil above 70 F.
• Okra. Illinois sows okra about a week to 10 days after the last frost; Maryland waits 2 to 3 weeks, until the soil is 65 F. The table opens at the frost date itself.
• Spinach. MontGuide, behind the table, sows spinach 6 weeks before the last frost. Wisconsin sows about 4 weeks before it and Utah State 2 to 3 weeks before. Utah State sows into 40 F soil; Maryland waits for 45 F.
• Arugula's last sowing. The table stops 30 days before the first frost; Cornell says about a month. Johnny's keeps sowing until 2 to 3 weeks before it.

Finding your own frost dates

1. Enter your ZIP in our frost date calculator. It reads the NOAA 1991-2020 normals at the weather station nearest you; your zone number cannot give you those two dates.
2. Find your crop in the table above and count the weeks in its rule from your own last and first frost.
3. Check the soil before you sow: spinach goes into 40 F soil (Utah State), carrots into 45 F (Maryland), okra into 65 F (Maryland) and cucumbers into 70 F (Minnesota).

More planting guides

• Zone 5 planting schedule
• Zone 6 planting schedule
• Zone 7 planting schedule
• Zone 9 planting schedule
• Brassicas: how to grow kale, cauliflower, turnips and radishes
• Companion planting: what grows well together
• How to grow asparagus, a perennial planted from crowns
• How to grow sprouts indoors, any month of the year
• How to grow onions from seed, sets or transplants
• Frost dates by ZIP code, with a seed-starting calculator

Sources

Every date on this page comes from these sources, read on October 29, 2026.

• NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020 (freeze dates, 32 F, 50 percent probability)
• USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023 (Agricultural Research Service; zone of each station's ZIP)
• Botanical Interests, Arugula Sow and Grow Guide (Internet Archive copy)
• Cornell Garden-Based Learning, Arugula
• University of Illinois Extension, Good Growing: Arugula
• University of Minnesota Extension, Growing basil
• UMass Extension Vegetable Program, Basil
• University of Maryland Extension, Growing Leafy Greens
• Montana State University Extension, MontGuide MT199308AG
• Utah State University Extension, Cilantro/Coriander
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Cilantro
• Utah State University Extension, What is Edamame
• Iowa State University Extension, All About Beans
• Utah State University Extension, How to Grow Kale
• Clemson HGIC, Pepper
• Utah State University Extension, How to Grow Chicory
• Johnny's Selected Seeds, Radicchio Key Growing Information
• University of Minnesota Extension, Growing tomatoes
• Clemson HGIC, Tomato
• University of Maryland Extension, Growing Peppers
• Johnny's Selected Seeds, Tomatoes Key Growing Information
• Utah State University Extension, Cucumber
• University of Minnesota Extension, Growing cucumbers
• Johnny's Selected Seeds, Cucumber Key Growing Information
• Johnny's Selected Seeds, Melon Key Growing Information
• University of Minnesota Extension, Growing melons
• University of Illinois Extension, Okra
• University of Maryland Extension, Growing Okra
• University of Wisconsin Extension, Spinach
• Utah State University Extension, Spinach
• University of Maryland Extension, Growing Spinach
• Johnny's Selected Seeds, Arugula Key Growing Information
• University of Maryland Extension, Growing Carrots
• UGA Extension, Vegetable Planting Chart (C963) (extension calendar)
• UGA Extension, Vegetable Garden Calendar (C943) (summer heat, shade and water notes)
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Planting Guide for Home Gardening in Alabama (ANR-0063) (extension calendar)
• Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC, Lettuce (HGIC 1312) (extension calendar)
• Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC, Spinach (HGIC 1320) (extension calendar)
• Dallas County Master Gardener Association, Recommended Planting Dates for North Texas (extension calendar)
• Dallas County Master Gardener Association, Fall Planting Starts in June (summer heat, shade and water notes)
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Fall Vegetable Gardening Guide (summer heat, shade and water notes)
• WSU Extension Snohomish County, Fall and Winter Vegetable Gardens for Western Washington (extension calendar)
• WSU Extension Skagit County, Midsummer Vegetable Opportunities (extension calendar)
• WSU Extension Skagit County Master Gardeners, Cool Season Vegetables (summer heat, shade and water notes)
• WSU Clallam County Extension Master Gardeners, Fall and Winter Vegetable Gardening (extension calendar)
• Oregon State University Extension, PNW 548 supplement: winter vegetables west of the Cascades (extension calendar)

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant potatoes in zone 8?

Our frost rules give zone 8 potatoes Mar 14 to Jul 15 (MontGuide: 1 week before the median last frost, Mar 21, to 17 weeks before the first, Nov 11). Southern calendars differ: Georgia plants Jan 15 to Mar 1; Alabama in February and Aug 1 to 15; Dallas Feb 15 to Mar 1 and Jul 25 to Aug 10.

When should I plant tomatoes in zone 8?

Our frost rules set zone 8 tomatoes out Mar 21 (the median last frost) to Jul 15, from seeds started indoors Jan 24 to Feb 7. Southern calendars differ: Georgia plants Mar 25 to May 1 and Jun 15 to Jul 15; Alabama in April and July; Dallas Mar 25 to Apr 15 and Jun 15 to Jul 15.

When should I plant carrots in zone 8?

Sow carrots outdoors in zone 8 from Feb 21 to Aug 12. MontGuide's window opens 4 weeks before the last frost (Mar 21 at the zone 8 median) and closes 13 weeks before the first (Nov 11). Carrots take 60 to 80 days, so the last sowing is ready Oct 11 to Oct 31.

What can I plant now in zone 8?

It depends on the month: the month list above names what opens and closes in each. At zone 8's median dates, start broccoli and cabbage indoors from Dec 13, sow peas from Feb 7, set out tomatoes from Mar 21, and sow fall turnips and spinach Sep 16 to Sep 30, ahead of a Nov 11 first frost.

When should I plant corn in zone 8?

Sow sweet corn in zone 8 from Mar 21 to Apr 11. MontGuide's window runs from the last frost to 3 weeks after it, here zone 8's median last frost of Mar 21. Corn is frost-tender and takes 70 to 90 days or more, so those plantings ripen from about May 30.