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Macon-Bibb County, Georgia planting calendar and frost dates

Macon-Bibb County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 21 and the first fall frost around November 10, giving about 235 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 8b
Typical last frost
March 21
Typical first frost
November 10
Frost-free season
235 days

Frost dates in Macon-Bibb County

Last spring frost

  • February 28Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • March 21Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • April 7Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • November 10Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 29Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 235 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 3 and returns around November 24.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Macon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, 10.8 miles S 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 Macon-Bibb County

  1. 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

  2. February

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

    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

  3. 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, 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

  4. 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

  5. May

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

  6. July

    Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes, tomatoes

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. November

    Start indoors: onions

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

  11. December

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

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Macon-Bibb County

All 9 of Macon-Bibb County's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Macon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
310528bMacon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, 10.8 mi SMar 21Nov 10
312018bMacon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, 10.8 mi SMar 21Nov 10
312048bMacon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, 10.8 mi SMar 21Nov 10
312068bMacon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, 10.8 mi SMar 21Nov 10
312108bMacon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, 10.8 mi SMar 21Nov 10
312118bMacon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, 10.8 mi SMar 21Nov 10
312168bMacon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, 10.8 mi SMar 21Nov 10
312178bMacon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, 10.8 mi SMar 21Nov 10
312208bMacon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport, 10.8 mi SMar 21Nov 10

Macon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport also supplies the frost dates for Warner Robins, so their planting calendars match Macon-Bibb County's.

Planting dates for popular crops in Macon-Bibb County

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesJan 30 to Feb 13Mar 27 to Apr 10Jul 28 to Aug 4
Strawberries—Feb 7 to 21—
LettuceJan 24 to Feb 7Mar 14 to 28Aug 11 to Sep 15
CilantroFeb 7 to 21Mar 21 to 28—
BasilFeb 7 to 21Mar 28 to Apr 4—
Potatoes—Feb 28 to Mar 7Jul 21 to 28
Garlic—Feb 7 to 21Nov 10 to 24
OnionsNov 29 to Jan 10Feb 21 to Mar 7—
CucumbersFeb 28 to Mar 14Mar 28 to Apr 11Aug 11 to 25
PumpkinsMar 7 to 21Apr 4 to 18—
PeppersJan 10 to Feb 7Mar 28 to Apr 11Jul 21 to Aug 18
Carrots—Feb 28 to Mar 21Aug 18 to Sep 8
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 19 to 26—
WatermelonsFeb 21 to Mar 7Mar 28 to Apr 11—
Sweet Corn—Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 4 to 18
Green Beans—Mar 27 to Apr 10Aug 18 to 25
ZucchiniFeb 28 to Mar 14Mar 28 to Apr 11Aug 18 to Sep 1
BroccoliJan 3 to 24Feb 21 to Mar 7Aug 25 to Sep 22
Peas—Feb 7 to 21Aug 18 to Sep 1
SpinachFeb 7 to 14Mar 14 to 28Sep 1 to Oct 6
Sunflowers—Mar 21 to Apr 11—
ZinniasApr 8 to 15May 6 to 20—
Tulips——Sep 29 to Nov 24
Daffodils——Sep 29 to Nov 10
Grass Seed—Feb 7 to 21Sep 29 to Oct 13

Nearby cities

Planting in GeorgiaAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Macon-Bibb County

Questions

When is the last frost in Macon-Bibb County?

Around March 21 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Macon Middle Ga Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 7.

What planting zone is Macon-Bibb 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 Macon-Bibb 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 7.

When is the first frost in Macon-Bibb County?

Around November 10 in a typical year, and before October 29 about 1 year in 10.