In Atlanta, the average last spring frost is Mar 25 and the average first fall frost is Nov 10, a growing season of about 230 days (zone 8a). Start tomatoes indoors around Feb 11 and move them outside from Apr 8. Plant garlic Nov 17 to Nov 24, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Atlanta at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Mar 25 (average)
- First fall frost
- Nov 10 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 230 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Mableton 1 N, GA; Atlanta Hartsfield Intl AP, GA; and Jonesboro, GA, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Atlanta this month (January)
- Start onions indoors: Jan 14
Coming up in early February: start tomatoes indoors (Feb 11), start peppers indoors (Feb 11), start eggplant indoors (Feb 11) and start lettuce indoors (Feb 11).
What to plant in Atlanta this month (February)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Feb 11
- Start peppers indoors: Feb 11
- Start eggplant indoors: Feb 11
- Start lettuce indoors: Feb 11
- Start kale indoors: Feb 18
- Start broccoli indoors: Feb 18
- Start cabbage indoors: Feb 18
- Start basil indoors: Feb 25
Coming up in early March: direct sow spinach (Mar 4), direct sow peas (Mar 4), direct sow radishes (Mar 4), transplant lettuce (Mar 11), direct sow carrots (Mar 11), start cucumbers indoors (Mar 11), start zucchini indoors (Mar 11) and start winter squash indoors (Mar 11).
What to plant in Atlanta this month (March)
- Direct sow spinach: Mar 4
- Direct sow peas: Mar 4
- Direct sow radishes: Mar 4
- Transplant lettuce: Mar 11
- Direct sow carrots: Mar 11
- Start cucumbers indoors: Mar 11
- Start zucchini indoors: Mar 11
- Start winter squash indoors: Mar 11
- Direct sow beets: Mar 18
- Transplant kale: Mar 18
- Transplant broccoli: Mar 18
- Transplant cabbage: Mar 18
- Direct sow potatoes: Mar 18
- Transplant onions: Mar 25
Coming up in early April: transplant cucumbers (Apr 1), transplant zucchini (Apr 1), transplant winter squash (Apr 1), direct sow beans (Apr 1), transplant tomatoes (Apr 8), transplant peppers (Apr 8), transplant eggplant (Apr 8) and transplant basil (Apr 8).
What to plant in Atlanta this month (April)
- Transplant cucumbers: Apr 1
- Transplant zucchini: Apr 1
- Transplant winter squash: Apr 1
- Direct sow beans: Apr 1
- Transplant tomatoes: Apr 8
- Transplant peppers: Apr 8
- Transplant eggplant: Apr 8
- Transplant basil: Apr 8
What to plant in Atlanta this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Atlanta in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 1.
What to plant in Atlanta this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Atlanta in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 1.
What to plant in Atlanta this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Atlanta in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 1.
What to plant in Atlanta this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Atlanta in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 1.
What to plant in Atlanta this month (September)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Sep 1
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Sep 1
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Sep 15
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Sep 22
Coming up in early October: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Oct 6).
What to plant in Atlanta this month (October)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 6
What to plant in Atlanta this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Nov 17 to Nov 24
What to plant in Atlanta this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Atlanta in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Jan 14.
Atlanta planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 11 | Transplant Apr 8 | From Jun 25 |
| Peppers | Feb 11 | Transplant Apr 8 | From Jun 19 |
| Eggplant | Feb 11 | Transplant Apr 8 | From Jun 22 |
| Basil | Feb 25 | Transplant Apr 8 | From May 20 |
| Onions (from seed) | Jan 14 | Transplant Mar 25 | From Jul 3 |
| Lettuce | Feb 11 | Transplant Mar 11Fall: direct sow Sep 15 | From Apr 20Fall: from Oct 25 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Mar 4Fall: direct sow Sep 22 | From Apr 13Fall: from Nov 1 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Mar 4Fall: direct sow Sep 1 | From May 3Fall: from Oct 31 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 4Fall: direct sow Oct 6 | From Mar 29Fall: from Oct 31 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Mar 11 | From May 20 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Mar 18 | From May 12 |
| Kale | Feb 18 | Transplant Mar 18Fall: direct sow Sep 1 | From May 12Fall: from Oct 26 |
| Broccoli | Feb 18 | Transplant Mar 18 | From May 22 |
| Cabbage | Feb 18 | Transplant Mar 18 | From May 27 |
| Cucumbers | Mar 11 | Transplant Apr 1 | From May 26 |
| Zucchini | Mar 11 | Transplant Apr 1 | From May 21 |
| Winter squash | Mar 11 | Transplant Apr 1 | From Jun 30 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Apr 1 | From May 26 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 18 | From Jun 6 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Nov 17 to Nov 24 | Around Jun 17 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Atlanta's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Atlanta
Plant garlic Nov 17 to Nov 24. That is one to two weeks after Atlanta's average first fall frost of Nov 10, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jun 17 the following summer.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Atlanta:
- Peas: sow Sep 1, ready from about Oct 31
- Kale: sow Sep 1, ready from about Oct 26
- Lettuce: sow Sep 15, ready from about Oct 25
- Spinach: sow Sep 22, ready from about Nov 1
- Radishes: sow Oct 6, ready from about Oct 31
Nearby planting calendars
Atlanta planting questions
When is the last frost in Atlanta?
The average last spring frost in Atlanta is Mar 25, and the average first fall frost is Nov 10, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Atlanta?
Start tomatoes indoors around Feb 11, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Apr 8, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Atlanta in fall?
Garlic goes in Nov 17 to Nov 24. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Sep 1, lettuce around Sep 15, spinach around Sep 22 and radishes around Oct 6.