Zone 8a planting calendar
In zone 8a, the last spring frost usually comes around Mar 25 and the first fall frost around Nov 10. Here is what to do each month.
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Open the free planner →January
- Jan 28:
Start bell pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Jan 28:
Start hot pepper seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Jan 28:
Start eggplant seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Jan 28:
Start parsley seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Jan 28:
Start chives seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Jan 28:
Start thyme seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Jan 28:
Start oregano seeds indoors (or buy plants later)
February
- Feb 4:
Start tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 4:
Start cherry tomato seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 11:
Sow spinach seeds in the bed - Feb 11:
Start kale seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 11:
Start broccoli seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 11:
Start cabbage seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 11:
Start cauliflower seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 11:
Sow pea seeds in the bed - Feb 11:
Start basil seeds indoors (or buy plants later) - Feb 18:
Sow radish seeds in the bed - Feb 25:
Sow lettuce seeds in the bed - Feb 25:
Sow arugula seeds in the bed - Feb 25: Plant kale in the bed
- Feb 25:
Plant onion sets in the bed - Feb 25:
Sow green onion seeds in the bed - Feb 25:
Plant strawberries in the bed - Feb 25:
Plant blueberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Feb 25:
Plant raspberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Feb 25:
Plant blackberries in the bed (first harvest next year) - Feb 25:
Plant rhubarb in the bed (first harvest next year)
March
- Mar 4: Plant broccoli in the bed
- Mar 4: Plant cabbage in the bed
- Mar 4:
Sow carrot seeds in the bed - Mar 4:
Sow beet seeds in the bed - Mar 11:
Sow swiss chard seeds in the bed - Mar 11: Plant cauliflower in the bed
- Mar 11:
Plant seed potatoes in the bed - Mar 11: Plant parsley in the bed
- Mar 11:
Sow cilantro seeds in the bed - Mar 11: Plant chives in the bed
- Mar 25:
Sow dill seeds in the bed - Mar 25: Plant thyme in the bed
- Mar 25: Plant oregano in the bed
April
- Apr 1:
Sow bush bean seeds in the bed - Apr 1:
Sow pole bean seeds in the bed - Apr 1:
Plant rosemary in the bed - Apr 1:
Plant figs in the bed (first harvest next year) - Apr 8: Plant tomatoes in the bed
- Apr 8: Plant cherry tomatoes in the bed
- Apr 8: Plant bell peppers in the bed
- Apr 8: Plant hot peppers in the bed
- Apr 8:
Sow cucumber seeds in the bed - Apr 8:
Sow zucchini seeds in the bed - Apr 8:
Sow winter squash seeds in the bed - Apr 8:
Sow sweet corn seeds in the bed - Apr 8: Plant basil in the bed
- Apr 8:
Sow watermelon seeds in the bed - Apr 8:
Sow cantaloupe seeds in the bed - Apr 15: Plant eggplants in the bed
- Apr 15:
Plant sweet potatoes in the bed - Apr 15:
Sow okra seeds in the bed
July
- Jul 7: Start cabbage seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jul 12: Start broccoli seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jul 12: Start cauliflower seeds indoors for a fall crop
- Jul 22: Start kale seeds indoors for a fall crop
August
- Aug 18: Plant cabbage again for a fall crop
- Aug 18: Sow carrot seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 23: Plant broccoli again for a fall crop
- Aug 23: Plant cauliflower again for a fall crop
- Aug 28: Sow green onion seeds again for a fall crop
- Aug 28: Sow pea seeds again for a fall crop
September
- Sep 2: Plant kale again for a fall crop
- Sep 2: Sow swiss chard seeds again for a fall crop
- Sep 2: Sow beet seeds again for a fall crop
- Sep 7: Sow lettuce seeds again for a fall crop
- Sep 7: Sow cilantro seeds again for a fall crop
- Sep 12: Sow spinach seeds again for a fall crop
- Sep 17: Sow arugula seeds again for a fall crop
- Sep 29: Sow radish seeds again for a fall crop
October
- Oct 13:
Plant garlic cloves
Not usually grown outdoors in zone 8a
Lemon (dwarf Meyer). Some of these can be grown in pots and moved indoors for winter.
Dates are estimates based on average frost dates for zone 8a. Your local dates may differ by a week or two.