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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

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. April

    Start indoors: zinnias

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

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. August

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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 codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
313029aSavannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNWMar 2Nov 30
314019aSavannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNWMar 2Nov 30
314049aSavannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNWMar 2Nov 30
314059aSavannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNWMar 2Nov 30
314069aSavannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNWMar 2Nov 30
314079aSavannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNWMar 2Nov 30
314089aSavannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNWMar 2Nov 30
314099aSavannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNWMar 2Nov 30
314159aSavannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNWMar 2Nov 30
314199aSavannah International Airport, 7.2 mi WNWMar 2Nov 30

Planting dates for popular crops in Savannah

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 16 to 30Aug 17 to 24
Strawberries—Jan 19 to Feb 2—
LettuceJan 5 to 19Feb 23 to Mar 9Aug 31 to Oct 5
CilantroJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 2 to 9—
BasilJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to 23—
Potatoes—Feb 9 to 16Aug 10 to 17
Garlic—Jan 19 to Feb 2Nov 30 to Dec 14
OnionsNov 10 to Dec 22Feb 2 to 16—
CucumbersFeb 16 to Mar 2Mar 16 to 30Aug 31 to Sep 14
PumpkinsFeb 16 to Mar 2Mar 16 to 30—
PeppersDec 29 to Jan 26Mar 16 to 30Aug 10 to Sep 7
Carrots—Feb 9 to Mar 2Sep 7 to 28
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 9 to 16—
WatermelonsFeb 9 to 23Mar 16 to 30—
Sweet Corn—Mar 2 to 16Aug 24 to Sep 7
Green Beans—Mar 16 to 30Sep 7 to 14
ZucchiniFeb 16 to Mar 2Mar 16 to 30Sep 7 to 21
BroccoliDec 15 to Jan 5Feb 2 to 16Sep 14 to Oct 12
Peas—Jan 19 to Feb 2Sep 7 to 21
SpinachJan 19 to 26Feb 23 to Mar 9Sep 21 to Oct 26
Sunflowers—Mar 2 to 23—
ZinniasApr 2 to 9Apr 30 to May 14—
Tulips——Oct 19 to Dec 14
Daffodils——Oct 19 to Nov 30
Grass Seed—Jan 19 to Feb 2Oct 19 to Nov 2

Nearby cities

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.