Savannah, Georgia planting calendar and frost dates
Savannah is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 2 and the first fall frost around November 30, giving about 270 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- March 2
- Typical first frost
- November 30
- Frost-free season
- 270 days
Frost dates in Savannah
Last spring frost
- February 4Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 25Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 11Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 30Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 28Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 270 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 13 and returns around December 22.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Savannah International Airport, 7.2 miles WNW 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 Savannah
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, 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, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, 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, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Savannah
All 10 of Savannah's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Savannah International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31302 | 9a | Savannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNW | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| 31401 | 9a | Savannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNW | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| 31404 | 9a | Savannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNW | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| 31405 | 9a | Savannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNW | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| 31406 | 9a | Savannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNW | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| 31407 | 9a | Savannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNW | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| 31408 | 9a | Savannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNW | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| 31409 | 9a | Savannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNW | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| 31415 | 9a | Savannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNW | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| 31419 | 9a | Savannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNW | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Savannah
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 19 to Feb 2 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 17 to 24 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 19 to Feb 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 5 to 19 | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Aug 31 to Oct 5 |
| Cilantro | Jan 19 to Feb 2 | Mar 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 16 to 23 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 9 to 16 | Aug 10 to 17 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 19 to Feb 2 | Nov 30 to Dec 14 |
| Onions | Nov 10 to Dec 22 | Feb 2 to 16 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 31 to Sep 14 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Mar 16 to 30 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 29 to Jan 26 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 10 to Sep 7 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 9 to Mar 2 | Sep 7 to 28 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 9 to 16 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 9 to 23 | Mar 16 to 30 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 2 to 16 | Aug 24 to Sep 7 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Sep 7 to 14 |
| Zucchini | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Mar 16 to 30 | Sep 7 to 21 |
| Broccoli | Dec 15 to Jan 5 | Feb 2 to 16 | Sep 14 to Oct 12 |
| Peas | — | Jan 19 to Feb 2 | Sep 7 to 21 |
| Spinach | Jan 19 to 26 | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Sep 21 to Oct 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 2 to 23 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 2 to 9 | Apr 30 to May 14 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 19 to Dec 14 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 19 to Nov 30 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 19 to Feb 2 | Oct 19 to Nov 2 |
Nearby cities
- Summerville, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 22
- North Charleston, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 7
- Charleston, SC zone 9a, last frost Feb 4
- Mount Pleasant, SC zone 9a, last frost Feb 4
- Goose Creek, SC zone 8b, last frost Feb 4
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA zone 8b, last frost Mar 23
Planting in GeorgiaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Savannah
Questions
When is the last frost in Savannah?
Around March 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Savannah International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 25.
What planting zone is Savannah in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Savannah?
Start seeds indoors January 19 to February 2 and set plants out March 16 to 30; the safest date to plant out is after March 25.
When is the first frost in Savannah?
Around November 30 in a typical year, and before November 11 about 1 year in 10.