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When to plant in Atlanta, GA

USDA Zone 8a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Atlanta, Georgia — all computed from Atlanta's nearest NOAA weather station.

In zone 8a, Atlanta supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.

Station · ATLANTA FULTON CO AP · 9.3 km
Last spring frost
March 24
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 8
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
229 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for AtlantaA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Atlanta: last spring frost around March 24, first fall frost around November 8, about 229 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

ATLANTA FULTON CO AP · 1991–2020

The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Atlanta’s own odds, recorded at ATLANTA FULTON CO AP.

Frost-probability curves for AtlantaProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around March 24 and the first fall frost around November 8, giving about 229 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FApr 22Apr 7Mar 21Oct 17Oct 29Nov 11
32°FApr 10Mar 24Mar 2Oct 27Nov 8Nov 26
28°FMar 27Mar 9Feb 15Nov 4Nov 20Dec 14

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Brussels Sprouts
July 19August 2
Fall sowin 14 days
Rutabaga
August 2August 16

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Atlanta, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 17 km · complete 32°F normals

When stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.

ATLANTA FULTON CO AP
Primary
9 km · 256 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 24
FALL
Nov 8
ATLANTA HARTSFIELD INTL AP
15 km · 308 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 15
FALL
Nov 20
ATLANTA PEACHTREE AP
17 km · 305 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 25
FALL
Nov 9

Atlanta planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Atlanta, GA?

On average, the last spring frost in Atlanta is around March 24 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Atlanta, GA?

The first fall frost in Atlanta typically arrives around November 8 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Atlanta in?

Atlanta is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Atlanta?

Atlanta has about 229 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 24) and first fall frost (November 8).

When should I plant tomatoes in Atlanta?

For Atlanta, sow tomatoes indoors about January 27–February 10 and move the seedlings out around March 31, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Atlanta

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Atlanta’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at ATLANTA FULTON CO AP, 9 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Atlanta, GA — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003888. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/georgia/atlanta.