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Frost dates and planting calendar for Lawrenceville, 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 25[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 9[3]
Growing season, median
228 days[4]

Lawrenceville, Georgia is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map[1]. The median last spring frost is March 25 at the NOAA station used here[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 5, half of years Mar 25, 1 in 10 years after Apr 12Last frostmedian Mar 25First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 27, half of years Nov 9, 1 in 10 years before Oct 26First frostmedian Nov 9Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Feb 25 to Mar 11Feb 25 to Mar 11Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 11 to Mar 25Mar 11 to Mar 25TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 25around Mar 25Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 8from Apr 8
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.

The frost dates here come from NOAA climate normals for the Atlanta Peachtree Airport station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. They are odds, not a forecast. The last spring frost comes after March 25 in half of years, and after April 12 in 1 of 10 years[2]. The first fall frost comes before November 9 in half of years, and before October 26 in 1 of 10 years[3]. Any single year can be earlier or later.

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 5 after March 25 after April 12
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 26 before November 9 before November 27
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 12, median first fall date November 22[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 205 days in 9 of 10 years, 228 days in half of years and 253 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: Atlanta Peachtree Airport (USW00053863), 18.6 miles from the city center, 1,002 feet, 20 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 simple arithmetic and not local advice[6]. CSU says hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the average last spring frost[6]. Using the NOAA median, that is February 25 to March 11[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median, which is March 11[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn are started from seed around March 25[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically start 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so the earliest start is April 8[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (March 25) is February 25 to March 11[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 25) is March 11, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 25[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 25), is April 8[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Feb 25 May 1 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Feb 25 May 21 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Feb 25 Apr 16
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Feb 25 Apr 26
Onions (hardy)[12] Feb 25 Jun 15
Peas (hardy)[12] Feb 25 May 1
Radishes (hardy)[12] Feb 25 Mar 27
Spinach (hardy)[12] Feb 25 Apr 6
Turnips (hardy)[12] Feb 25 Apr 16
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 11 May 10
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 11 May 20
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 11 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 11 May 20
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 11 Jul 14
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 11 May 10
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 25 May 24
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 25 May 24
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 25 May 19
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 25 May 14
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 8 Jul 2
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 8 Jun 7 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 8 Jun 17 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 8 Jun 12 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 8 Jul 17
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 8 Jul 2
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

Zone 8a means the coldest night of the year averages 10°F to 15°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone describes winter lows, not summer heat or frost dates[14]. All of Lawrenceville's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a[15].

Zone 8a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 10°F to 15°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 14°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8a 100%[15].

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

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
30046[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
30043[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
30045[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
30044[15] 8a 10 to 15°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Lawrenceville, Georgia?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Lawrenceville in zone 8a[1]. All of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated 8a[15].
When is the last frost in Lawrenceville?
The median last spring frost is March 25[2]. In 1 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 12[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Lawrenceville?
CSU Extension says tomatoes typically start 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. With the median last frost of March 25, the earliest start is April 8[11].
When is the first frost in Lawrenceville?
The median first fall frost is November 9[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 26[3].
How long is the growing season in Lawrenceville?
The season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 228 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 205 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Lawrenceville, 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°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 5, in half of years after March 25, and in 1 of 10 years after April 12 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 25. 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 26, in half of years before November 9, and in 9 of 10 years before November 27 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 9. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 205 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 228 days in half of years, and at least 253 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Atlanta Peachtree Airport weather station (USW00053863), 18.6 miles from the center of Lawrenceville at 1,002 feet, using 20 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 12 and the median first fall date is November 22. 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. Lawrenceville, Georgia overlaps 4 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a. 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.