Athens-Clarke County, Georgia planting calendar and frost dates
Athens-Clarke County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 23 and the first fall frost around November 10, giving about 232 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 23
- Typical first frost
- November 10
- Frost-free season
- 232 days
Frost dates in Athens-Clarke County
Last spring frost
- March 2Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 28Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 10Typical: 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 232 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 9 and returns around November 25.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Athens Ben Epps Airport, 2.4 miles E of the city center and 169 feet higher. 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 Athens-Clarke County
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
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: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, 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, ginger, 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
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips, zucchini
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
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Athens-Clarke County
All 6 of Athens-Clarke County's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Athens Ben Epps Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8a in 30605, 30606, 30622, 30683, and 8b in 30601, 30607.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30601 | 8b | Athens Ben Epps Airport, 2.4 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 10 |
| 30605 | 8a | Athens Ben Epps Airport, 2.4 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 10 |
| 30606 | 8a | Athens Ben Epps Airport, 2.4 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 10 |
| 30607 | 8b | Athens Ben Epps Airport, 2.4 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 10 |
| 30622 | 8a | Athens Ben Epps Airport, 2.4 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 10 |
| 30683 | 8a | Athens Ben Epps Airport, 2.4 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 10 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Athens-Clarke County
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Jul 28 to Aug 4 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 9 to 23 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 11 to Sep 15 |
| Cilantro | Feb 9 to 23 | Mar 23 to 30 | — |
| Basil | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 7 to 14 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 2 to 9 | Jul 21 to 28 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Nov 10 to 24 |
| Onions | Dec 1 to Jan 12 | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 11 to 25 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 20 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | Jul 21 to Aug 18 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 2 to 23 | Aug 18 to Sep 8 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 18 to 25 |
| Zucchini | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Broccoli | Jan 5 to 26 | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Aug 25 to Sep 22 |
| Peas | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Spinach | Feb 9 to 16 | Mar 16 to 30 | Sep 1 to Oct 6 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 23 to Apr 13 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 17 to 24 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 29 to Nov 24 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 29 to Nov 10 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Sep 29 to Oct 13 |
Nearby cities
- Johns Creek, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
- Stonecrest, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 15
- Alpharetta, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
- Dunwoody, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
- Brookhaven, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 15
- Roswell, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
Planting in GeorgiaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Athens-Clarke County
Questions
When is the last frost in Athens-Clarke County?
Around March 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Athens Ben Epps Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 10.
What planting zone is Athens-Clarke County in?
USDA hardiness zone 8a (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 Athens-Clarke County?
Start seeds indoors February 10 to 24 and set plants out April 7 to 21; the safest date to plant out is after April 10.
When is the first frost in Athens-Clarke County?
Around November 10 in a typical year, and before October 28 about 1 year in 10.