Albany, Georgia planting calendar and frost dates
Albany is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 10 and the first fall frost around November 20, giving about 257 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 10
- Typical first frost
- November 20
- Frost-free season
- 257 days
Frost dates in Albany
Last spring frost
- February 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 10Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 30Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 5Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 20Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 12Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 257 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around February 21 and returns around December 5.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Albany 3 Se, 6.4 miles W of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Albany
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Albany
Albany's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 8 in 31721 to March 10 in 31707. The hardiness zone is 8b in 31707, 31721, and 9a in 31701, 31705.
Planting dates for popular crops in Albany
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 7 to 14 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 13 to 27 | Mar 3 to 17 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Cilantro | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Mar 10 to 17 | — |
| Basil | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 24 to 31 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 17 to 24 | Jul 31 to Aug 7 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Nov 20 to Dec 4 |
| Onions | Nov 18 to Dec 30 | Feb 10 to 24 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 21 to Sep 4 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 6 to Feb 3 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 17 to Mar 10 | Aug 28 to Sep 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 10 to 24 | Aug 14 to 28 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 28 to Sep 4 |
| Zucchini | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Broccoli | Dec 23 to Jan 13 | Feb 10 to 24 | Sep 4 to Oct 2 |
| Peas | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Spinach | Jan 27 to Feb 3 | Mar 3 to 17 | Sep 11 to Oct 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 10 to 31 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 7 to 14 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 9 to Dec 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 9 to Nov 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Oct 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Valdosta, GA zone 9a, last frost Mar 10
- Dothan, AL zone 9a, last frost Mar 1
- Columbus, GA zone 8b, last frost Mar 5
- Warner Robins, GA zone 8b, last frost Mar 21
- Tallahassee, FL zone 9a, last frost Mar 11
- Macon-Bibb County, GA zone 8b, last frost Mar 21
Planting in GeorgiaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Albany
Questions
When is the last frost in Albany?
Around March 10 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Albany 3 Se. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 30.
What planting zone is Albany in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Albany?
Start seeds indoors January 27 to February 10 and set plants out March 24 to April 7; the safest date to plant out is after March 30.
When is the first frost in Albany?
Around November 20 in a typical year, and before November 5 about 1 year in 10.