| Plant | Zone 8a | Zone 8b |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Plant outside: Mar 29 to May 10 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 15 | Plant outside: Mar 16 to Apr 27 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 2 |
| Pepper | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 24 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 15 | Plant outside: Mar 30 to May 11 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 2 |
| Eggplant | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 24 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 15 | Plant outside: Mar 30 to May 11 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 2 |
| Cucumber | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 24 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 22 | Plant outside: Mar 30 to May 11 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 9 |
| Zucchini | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 24 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 22 | Plant outside: Mar 30 to May 11 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 9 |
| Winter squash | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 24 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 22 | Plant outside: Mar 30 to May 11 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 9 |
| Pumpkin | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 24 | Plant outside: Mar 30 to May 11 |
| Watermelon | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 24 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 15 | Plant outside: Mar 30 to May 11 Start seeds indoors: around Mar 2 |
| Okra | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 24 | Plant outside: Mar 30 to May 11 |
| Sweet potato | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 24 | Plant outside: Mar 30 to May 11 |
| Green beans | Plant outside: Mar 29 to May 10 | Plant outside: Mar 16 to Apr 27 |
| Sweet corn | Plant outside: Mar 29 to May 10 | Plant outside: Mar 16 to Apr 27 |
| Lettuce | Plant outside: Mar 1 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 1 Fall crop: Sep 12 to Oct 10 | Plant outside: Feb 16 to Mar 2 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 19 Fall crop: Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Spinach | Plant outside: Feb 15 to Mar 1 Fall crop: Sep 12 to Oct 10 | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Feb 16 Fall crop: Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Kale | Plant outside: Feb 15 to Mar 1 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 4 Fall crop: Sep 12 to Oct 10 | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Feb 16 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 Fall crop: Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Broccoli | Plant outside: Feb 15 to Mar 1 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 4 Fall crop: Sep 12 to Oct 10 | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Feb 16 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 Fall crop: Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Cabbage | Plant outside: Feb 15 to Mar 1 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 4 Fall crop: Sep 12 to Oct 10 | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Feb 16 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 Fall crop: Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Carrot | Plant outside: Mar 1 to Mar 15 Fall crop: Sep 12 to Oct 10 | Plant outside: Feb 16 to Mar 2 Fall crop: Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Beet | Plant outside: Mar 1 to Mar 15 Fall crop: Sep 12 to Oct 10 | Plant outside: Feb 16 to Mar 2 Fall crop: Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Radish | Plant outside: Feb 15 to Mar 1 Fall crop: Sep 12 to Oct 10 | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Feb 16 Fall crop: Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Peas | Plant outside: Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Feb 16 |
| Onion | Plant outside: Feb 15 to Mar 1 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Feb 16 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Potato | Plant outside: Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Feb 16 |
| Garlic | Plant cloves: Oct 10 to Nov 21 | Plant cloves: Oct 17 to Nov 28 |
Zones measure winter cold, not season length, so your own frost dates can be a week or two off the zone median. Look up your frost dates by ZIP code, or read all about zone 8a.
Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.