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Frost dates and planting calendar for Athens, Georgia

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
8a[1]
Median last spring frost
Mar 23[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 10[3]
Growing season, median
232 days[4]

Athens, Georgia is in USDA hardiness zone 8a at the city center[1]. The median last spring frost is March 23, which means that in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 2, half of years Mar 23, 1 in 10 years after Apr 10Last frostmedian Mar 23First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 27, half of years Nov 10, 1 in 10 years before Oct 28First frostmedian Nov 10Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Feb 23 to Mar 9Feb 23 to Mar 9Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 9 to Mar 23TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 23around Mar 23Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 6from Apr 6
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

NOAA frost dates for Athens come from the Ben Epps Airport weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after March 23, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 10[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before November 10, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 28[3]. These are chances from past years and not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 2 after March 23 after April 10
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 28 before November 10 before November 27
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 9, median first fall date November 25[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 208 days in 9 of 10 years, 232 days in half of years and 260 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Athens Ben Epps Airport (USW00013873), 2.4 miles from the city center, 785 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so these dates are a simple calculation and not local advice[6]. We used the median last frost of March 23 as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before it, which is February 23 to March 9[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before it, which is March 9[9]. Snap beans, sweet corn and cucumbers can be planted from seed around March 23[10]. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant typically go in 2 or more weeks after it, and April 6 is the earliest start[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (March 23) is February 23 to March 9[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 23) is March 9, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 23[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 23), is April 6[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 29 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Feb 23 May 19 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 14
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 24
Onions (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Jun 13
Peas (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 29
Radishes (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Mar 25
Spinach (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 4
Turnips (hardy)[12] Feb 23 Apr 14
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 8
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 18
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 18
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 Jul 12
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 9 May 8
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 23 May 22
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 23 May 22
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 23 May 17
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 23 May 12
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 30
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 5 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 15 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 10 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jul 15
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 6 Jun 30
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

The zone comes from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, and zone 8a means an average coldest night of 10°F to 15°F from 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on the coldest winter night, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Most of the city, 69% of its land area, is in ZIP code areas rated 8a, and 30% is in areas rated 8b[15].

Zone 8a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 10°F to 15°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 14.8°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8a 69%, zone 8b 30%[15].

All towns in zone 8a and what zone 8a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
30605[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
30606[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
30601[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
30607[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
30683[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
30622[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
30602[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
30609[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
30646[15] 8b 15 to 20°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Athens, Georgia?
The center of Athens is in USDA zone 8a[1]. By land area, 69% of the city is in ZIP code areas rated 8a and 30% in areas rated 8b[15].
When is the last frost in Athens, GA?
The median last spring frost is March 23, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 10[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Athens, GA?
CSU Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. Using the median last frost of March 23, the earliest start is April 6[11].
When is the first frost in Athens, GA?
The median first fall frost is November 10, so in half of years it comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 28[3].
How long is the growing season in Athens, GA?
In half of years the growing season is at least 232 days between the last spring and first fall frost[4]. In 9 of 10 years it is at least 208 days[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Athens, Georgia in zone 8a. Zone 8a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 10°F to 15°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 14.8°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after March 2, in half of years after March 23, and in 1 of 10 years after April 10 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 23. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 28, in half of years before November 10, and in 9 of 10 years before November 27 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 10. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 208 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 232 days in half of years, and at least 260 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Athens Ben Epps Airport weather station (USW00013873), 2.4 miles from the center of Athens at 785 feet, using 30 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is March 9 and the median first fall date is November 25. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Athens, Georgia overlaps 9 ZIP code areas. By land area, 69% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a, 30% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.