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Alpharetta, Georgia planting calendar and frost dates

Alpharetta is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 25 and the first fall frost around November 9, giving about 228 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 8a
Typical last frost
March 25
Typical first frost
November 9
Frost-free season
228 days

Frost dates in Alpharetta

Last spring frost

  • March 5Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • March 25Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • April 12Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • November 9Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 27Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 228 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 March 12 and returns around November 22.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Atlanta Peachtree Airport, 15.6 miles SSW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Alpharetta shares this station with Sandy Springs, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.

What to plant each month in Alpharetta

  1. January

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons

  2. February

    Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  3. March

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips

  4. April

    Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  7. July

    Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes, tomatoes

  8. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, zucchini

  9. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  12. December

    Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Alpharetta

Alpharetta's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 25 in 30005 to April 4 in 30004. Every one of them is in zone 8a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
300048aCumming 2n, 11 mi ENEApr 4Nov 4
300058aAtlanta Peachtree Airport, 15.6 mi SSWMar 25Nov 9
300098aAtlanta Peachtree Airport, 14 mi SMar 25Nov 9
300228aAtlanta Peachtree Airport, 10.9 mi SSWMar 25Nov 9

Atlanta Peachtree Airport also supplies the frost dates for Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek and Dunwoody, so their planting calendars match Alpharetta's.

Planting dates for popular crops in Alpharetta

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 13 to 27Jul 27 to Aug 3
Strawberries—Feb 11 to 25—
LettuceJan 28 to Feb 11Mar 18 to Apr 1Aug 10 to Sep 14
CilantroFeb 11 to 25Mar 25 to Apr 1—
BasilFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to 20—
Potatoes—Mar 4 to 11Jul 20 to 27
Garlic—Feb 11 to 25Nov 9 to 23
OnionsDec 3 to Jan 14Feb 25 to Mar 11—
CucumbersMar 16 to 30Apr 13 to 27Aug 10 to 24
PumpkinsMar 16 to 30Apr 13 to 27—
PeppersJan 26 to Feb 23Apr 13 to 27Jul 20 to Aug 17
Carrots—Mar 4 to 25Aug 17 to Sep 7
Sweet Potatoes—May 1 to 8—
WatermelonsMar 9 to 23Apr 13 to 27—
Sweet Corn—Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 3 to 17
Green Beans—Apr 13 to 27Aug 17 to 24
ZucchiniMar 16 to 30Apr 13 to 27Aug 17 to 31
BroccoliJan 7 to 28Feb 25 to Mar 11Aug 24 to Sep 21
Peas—Feb 11 to 25Aug 17 to 31
SpinachFeb 11 to 18Mar 18 to Apr 1Aug 31 to Oct 5
Sunflowers—Mar 25 to Apr 15—
ZinniasApr 20 to 27May 18 to Jun 1—
Tulips——Sep 28 to Nov 23
Daffodils——Sep 28 to Nov 9
Grass Seed—Feb 11 to 25Sep 28 to Oct 12

Nearby cities

Planting in GeorgiaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Alpharetta

Questions

When is the last frost in Alpharetta?

Around March 25 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Atlanta Peachtree Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 12.

What planting zone is Alpharetta in?

USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Alpharetta?

Start seeds indoors February 16 to March 2 and set plants out April 13 to 27.

When is the first frost in Alpharetta?

Around November 9 in a typical year, and before October 26 about 1 year in 10.