Valdosta, Georgia planting calendar and frost dates
Valdosta is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 10 and the first fall frost around November 21, giving about 259 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- March 10
- Typical first frost
- November 21
- Frost-free season
- 259 days
Frost dates in Valdosta
Last spring frost
- February 15Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 10Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 31Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 21Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 13Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 259 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 20 and returns around December 7.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Valdosta Rgnl Airport, 3.4 miles E 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 Valdosta
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, 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, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, 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, 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, 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, garden mums, green onions, okra, peanuts, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, winter squash, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
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, 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 Valdosta
All 3 of Valdosta's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Valdosta Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Valdosta
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 19 to Feb 2 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 8 to 15 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 13 to 27 | Mar 3 to 17 | Aug 22 to Sep 26 |
| Cilantro | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Mar 10 to 17 | — |
| Basil | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Mar 17 to 24 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 17 to 24 | Aug 1 to 8 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Nov 21 to Dec 5 |
| Onions | Nov 18 to Dec 30 | Feb 10 to 24 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 30 to Jan 27 | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 1 to 29 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 17 to Mar 10 | Aug 29 to Sep 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 10 to 24 | Mar 17 to 31 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 10 to 24 | Aug 15 to 29 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 29 to Sep 5 |
| Zucchini | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 29 to Sep 12 |
| Broccoli | Dec 23 to Jan 13 | Feb 10 to 24 | Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Peas | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Aug 29 to Sep 12 |
| Spinach | Jan 27 to Feb 3 | Mar 3 to 17 | Sep 12 to Oct 17 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 10 to 31 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 4 to 11 | May 2 to 16 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 10 to Dec 5 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 10 to Nov 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Oct 10 to 24 |
Nearby cities
- Tallahassee, FL zone 9a, last frost Mar 11
- Albany, GA zone 9a, last frost Mar 10
- Gainesville, FL zone 9a, last frost Mar 3
- Jacksonville, FL zone 9b, last frost Feb 1
- Warner Robins, GA zone 8b, last frost Mar 21
- Dothan, AL zone 9a, last frost Mar 1
Planting in GeorgiaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Valdosta
Questions
When is the last frost in Valdosta?
Around March 10 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Valdosta Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 31.
What planting zone is Valdosta 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 Valdosta?
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 31.
When is the first frost in Valdosta?
Around November 21 in a typical year, and before November 3 about 1 year in 10.