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Frost dates and planting calendar for Valdosta, Georgia

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

USDA hardiness zone
9a[1]
Median last spring frost
Mar 10[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 21[3]
Growing season, median
259 days[4]

The USDA map puts the center of Valdosta, Georgia in zone 9a[1]. NOAA records show the median last spring frost is March 10[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Feb 15, half of years Mar 10, 1 in 10 years after Mar 31Last frostmedian Mar 10First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Dec 13, half of years Nov 21, 1 in 10 years before Nov 3First frostmedian Nov 21Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Feb 10 to Feb 24Feb 10 to Feb 24Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Feb 24 to Mar 10Feb 24 to Mar 10TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 10around Mar 10Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Mar 24from Mar 24
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.

These frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Valdosta Regional Airport weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. They are odds, not a forecast. The last spring frost comes after February 15 in 9 of 10 years, after March 10 in half of years, and after March 31 in 1 of 10 years[2]. The first fall frost comes before November 3 in 1 of 10 years, before November 21 in half of years, and before December 13 in 9 of 10 years[3]. Any single year can be earlier or later[2][3].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after February 15 after March 10 after March 31
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 3 before November 21 before December 13
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date February 20, median first fall date December 7[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 229 days in 9 of 10 years, 259 days in half of years and 292 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 99.3% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Valdosta Regional Airport (USW00093845), 4.7 miles from the city center, 198 feet, 16 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide was written for Colorado[6]. GardenFacts used the NOAA median last frost of March 10 as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that date, which is February 10 to February 24[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as beets, carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before, which is February 24[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be planted from seed around March 10[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 March 24[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (March 10) is February 10 to February 24[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 10) is February 24, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 10[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 10), is March 24[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Feb 10 Apr 16 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Feb 10 May 6 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Feb 10 Apr 1
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Feb 10 Apr 11
Onions (hardy)[12] Feb 10 May 31
Peas (hardy)[12] Feb 10 Apr 16
Radishes (hardy)[12] Feb 10 Mar 12
Spinach (hardy)[12] Feb 10 Mar 22
Turnips (hardy)[12] Feb 10 Apr 1
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 24 Apr 25
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 24 May 5
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 24 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 24 May 5
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 24 Jun 29
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 24 Apr 25
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 10 May 9
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 10 May 9
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 10 May 4
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 10 Apr 29
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Mar 24 Jun 17
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Mar 24 May 23 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Mar 24 Jun 2 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Mar 24 May 28 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Mar 24 Jul 2
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Mar 24 Jun 17
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 9a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 20°F to 25°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on the coldest night of each winter, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Valdosta overlaps 5 ZIP code areas, and by land area 100% lies in zone 9a[15].

Zone 9a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 20°F to 25°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 22.1°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 9a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 9a and what zone 9a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
31601[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
31602[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
31605[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
31698[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
31606[15] 9a 20 to 25°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Valdosta, Georgia?
The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Valdosta in zone 9a[1]. All of the city's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 9a[15].
When is the last frost in Valdosta?
The median last spring frost is March 10, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after March 31[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Valdosta?
CSU Extension says very tender vegetables like tomatoes typically start 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. Using the median last frost of March 10, the earliest start is March 24[11].
When is the first frost in Valdosta?
The median first fall frost is November 21, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before November 3[3].
How long is the growing season in Valdosta?
The growing season is at least 259 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 229 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Valdosta, Georgia in zone 9a. Zone 9a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 20°F to 25°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 22.1°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 February 15, in half of years after March 10, and in 1 of 10 years after March 31 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 10. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 3, in half of years before November 21, and in 9 of 10 years before December 13 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 21. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 229 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 259 days in half of years, and at least 292 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Valdosta Regional Airport weather station (USW00093845), 4.7 miles from the center of Valdosta at 198 feet, using 16 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 February 20 and the median first fall date is December 7. 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 99.3% 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. Valdosta, Georgia overlaps 5 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 9a. 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.