USDA Zone 8a Planting Calendar (2026)
Zone 8a (10 to 15°F) has an average last spring frost on Mar 25 and first fall frost on Nov 10 — about 230 growing days. Typical areas: Dallas TX, Charleston SC.
How to use the zone 8a planting calendar
Every planting date on this page is calculated from zone 8a's average frost dates. Because your last spring frost lands around Mar 25 and your first fall frost around Nov 10, you have roughly 230 frost-free days to work with — a long growing season. The table below lists, for each of 20 common vegetables, when to start seeds indoors, when to sow or transplant outdoors, and when you can expect your first harvest.
Frost dates are averages, not guarantees. In a cold year the last frost can arrive 1-2 weeks later, so keep row covers handy for tender seedlings in Mar. Click any vegetable name to open a detailed zone 8a guide with spacing, companions, container tips and troubleshooting.
Cool-season crops for zone 8a
These tolerate light frost and go out first, 2-4 weeks before your Mar 25 last frost, and again in late summer for a fall crop: lettuce, carrot, broccoli, spinach, kale, onion, garlic, potato, peas, radish, beet, cabbage, cauliflower.
Warm-season crops for zone 8a
These need warm soil and frost-free weather, so plant them after Mar 25: tomato, pepper, cucumber, corn, bush beans, summer squash, zucchini. In a long season, start the slowest ones indoors to be sure they ripen before Nov.
| Vegetable | Start Indoors | Sow / Transplant | Harvest From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beet | — | Feb 25 | Apr 21 |
| 🥦 Broccoli | Feb 18 | Mar 11 | May 15 |
| 🫘 Bush Beans | — | Apr 1 | May 26 |
| 🥬 Cabbage | Feb 11 | Mar 11 | May 30 |
| 🥕 Carrot | — | Mar 4 | May 13 |
| 🥦 Cauliflower | Feb 11 | Mar 11 | May 25 |
| 🌽 Corn | — | Apr 8 | Jun 27 |
| 🥒 Cucumber | Mar 4 | Apr 8 | Jun 2 |
| 🧄 Garlic | — | Sep 9 | May 7 |
| 🥬 Kale | Feb 18 | Mar 4 | Apr 28 |
| 🥬 Lettuce | Feb 25 | Mar 4 | Apr 18 |
| 🧅 Onion | Jan 14 | Feb 25 | Jun 5 |
| 🟢 Peas | — | Feb 11 | Apr 12 |
| 🫑 Pepper | Jan 28 | Apr 8 | Jun 17 |
| 🥔 Potato | — | Mar 11 | Jun 9 |
| 🌶️ Radish | — | Feb 25 | Mar 25 |
| 🍃 Spinach | — | Feb 18 | Mar 30 |
| 🎃 Summer Squash | Mar 4 | Apr 1 | May 21 |
| 🍅 Tomato | Feb 11 | Apr 1 | Jun 15 |
| 🥒 Zucchini | Mar 4 | Apr 1 | May 21 |
Spring, summer and fall planting in zone 8a
Spring (Mar): As soon as the soil can be worked, direct sow hardy cool-season crops and set out frost-tolerant transplants. This is your window for peas, lettuce, spinach and the brassicas before summer heat arrives.
Early summer (after Mar 25): Once frost danger passes and soil warms past 60°F, transplant tomatoes, peppers and squash and direct sow beans and cucumbers. This is the heart of the zone 8a growing season.
Late summer to fall (before Nov 10):Sow a second round of quick cool-season crops for a fall harvest. Count back each crop's days-to-harvest from Nov 10 to find the latest safe sowing date, and use row covers to stretch the season a few extra weeks.
Zone 8a planting FAQ
What planting zone is Dallas TX?
Areas like Dallas TX, Charleston SC fall in USDA hardiness zone 8a, defined by an average annual minimum temperature of 10 to 15°F. Your average last spring frost is around Mar 25 and your first fall frost around Nov 10.
When is the last frost in zone 8a?
The average last spring frost in zone 8a is around Mar 25. Wait until after this date before transplanting warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers and squash. Cool-season crops can go out 2-4 weeks earlier because they tolerate light frost.
How long is the growing season in zone 8a?
Zone 8a has roughly 230 frost-free days between the last spring frost (Mar 25) and first fall frost (Nov 10). That is a long season — long enough for two or even three successive harvests of fast crops.
What vegetables grow best in zone 8a?
Reliable choices for zone 8a include cool-season crops such as lettuce, carrot, broccoli, spinach planted in early spring, and warm-season crops such as tomato, pepper, cucumber, corn planted after the last frost. See the full table below for exact dates.
Can I grow a fall garden in zone 8a?
Yes. With a first frost around Nov 10, you can plant a second round of quick cool-season crops in mid to late summer. Count back the days-to-harvest from Nov 10 to find your fall planting date.
When should I start seeds indoors in zone 8a?
Most warm-season seedlings are started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost — that means roughly Mar for zone 8a. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant benefit most from an indoor head start in this zone.