Atlanta, Georgia planting calendar and frost dates
Atlanta is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 15 and the first fall frost around November 20, giving about 252 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- March 15
- Typical first frost
- November 20
- Frost-free season
- 252 days
Frost dates in Atlanta
Last spring frost
- February 23Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 15Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 4Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 4Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 20Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 10Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 252 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 28 and returns around December 5.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 8.8 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.
What to plant each month in Atlanta
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: 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, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, 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, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, 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, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Atlanta
Atlanta's 10 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 15 in 30305 to March 25 in 30342. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30305 | 8a | Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 8.8 mi SSW | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
| 30310 | 8a | Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 8.8 mi SSW | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
| 30311 | 8a | Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 8.8 mi SSW | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
| 30314 | 8a | Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 8.8 mi SSW | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
| 30315 | 8a | Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 8.8 mi SSW | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
| 30318 | 8a | Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 8.8 mi SSW | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
| 30327 | 8a | Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 8.8 mi SSW | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
| 30331 | 8a | Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 8.8 mi SSW | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
| 30342 | 8a | Atlanta Peachtree Airport, 5.5 mi SE | Mar 25 | Nov 9 |
| 30354 | 8a | Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 8.8 mi SSW | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport also supplies the frost dates for South Fulton, Stonecrest and Brookhaven, so their planting calendars match Atlanta's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Atlanta
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 7 to 21 | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 7 to 14 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 1 to 15 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Cilantro | Feb 1 to 15 | Mar 15 to 22 | — |
| Basil | Feb 14 to 28 | Apr 4 to 11 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 22 to Mar 1 | Jul 31 to Aug 7 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 1 to 15 | Nov 20 to Dec 4 |
| Onions | Nov 23 to Jan 4 | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 21 to Sep 4 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 4 to 18 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 17 to Feb 14 | Apr 4 to 18 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 22 to Mar 15 | Aug 28 to Sep 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 4 to 18 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Aug 14 to 28 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 28 to Sep 4 |
| Zucchini | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Broccoli | Dec 28 to Jan 18 | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Sep 4 to Oct 2 |
| Peas | — | Feb 1 to 15 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Spinach | Feb 1 to 8 | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 11 to Oct 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 15 to Apr 5 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 14 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 9 to Dec 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 9 to Nov 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 1 to 15 | Oct 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Brookhaven, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 15
- Smyrna, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Mableton, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Sandy Springs, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
- South Fulton, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 15
- Dunwoody, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
Planting in GeorgiaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Atlanta
Questions
When is the last frost in Atlanta?
Around March 15 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 4.
What planting zone is Atlanta 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 Atlanta?
Start seeds indoors February 7 to 21 and set plants out April 4 to 18.
When is the first frost in Atlanta?
Around November 20 in a typical year, and before November 4 about 1 year in 10.