Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia planting calendar and frost dates
Augusta-Richmond County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 23 and the first fall frost around November 9, giving about 232 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- March 23
- Typical first frost
- November 9
- Frost-free season
- 232 days
Frost dates in Augusta-Richmond County
Last spring frost
- February 28Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 9Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 28Risky: 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 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 8 and returns around November 24.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Augusta Bush Fld Airport, 6.2 miles E of the city center and 212 feet lower. 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 Augusta-Richmond County
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, tomatoes
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, cauliflower, 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, 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: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: 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, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
July
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
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
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 Augusta-Richmond County
All 7 of Augusta-Richmond County's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Augusta Bush Fld Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30805 | 8b | Augusta Bush Fld Airport, 6.2 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
| 30815 | 8b | Augusta Bush Fld Airport, 6.2 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
| 30901 | 8b | Augusta Bush Fld Airport, 6.2 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
| 30904 | 8b | Augusta Bush Fld Airport, 6.2 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
| 30905 | 8b | Augusta Bush Fld Airport, 6.2 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
| 30906 | 8b | Augusta Bush Fld Airport, 6.2 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
| 30909 | 8b | Augusta Bush Fld Airport, 6.2 mi E | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Augusta-Richmond County
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Jul 27 to Aug 3 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 9 to 23 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 10 to Sep 14 |
| Cilantro | Feb 9 to 23 | Mar 23 to 30 | — |
| Basil | Feb 9 to 23 | Mar 30 to Apr 6 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 2 to 9 | Jul 20 to 27 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Nov 9 to 23 |
| Onions | Dec 1 to Jan 12 | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 2 to 16 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Aug 10 to 24 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 6 to 20 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 12 to Feb 9 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Jul 20 to Aug 17 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 2 to 23 | Aug 17 to Sep 7 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 18 to 25 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 17 to 24 |
| Zucchini | Mar 2 to 16 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Aug 17 to 31 |
| Broccoli | Jan 5 to 26 | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Aug 24 to Sep 21 |
| Peas | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Aug 17 to 31 |
| Spinach | Feb 9 to 16 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 31 to Oct 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 23 to Apr 13 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 9 to 16 | May 7 to 21 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 28 to Nov 23 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 28 to Nov 9 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
Nearby cities
- Columbia, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 16
- Athens-Clarke County, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 23
- Macon-Bibb County, GA zone 8b, last frost Mar 21
- Greenville, SC zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Warner Robins, GA zone 8b, last frost Mar 21
- Savannah, GA zone 9a, last frost Mar 2
Planting in GeorgiaAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Augusta-Richmond County
Questions
When is the last frost in Augusta-Richmond County?
Around March 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Augusta Bush Fld Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 9.
What planting zone is Augusta-Richmond County in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Augusta-Richmond County?
Start seeds indoors January 30 to February 13 and set plants out March 27 to April 10; the safest date to plant out is after April 9.
When is the first frost in Augusta-Richmond County?
Around November 9 in a typical year, and before October 28 about 1 year in 10.