Zone 8b Frost Dates & Planting Calendar

USDA Zone 8b has average coldest-winter lows of 15°F to 20°F. Across the 392 cities we track in this zone, the typical last spring frost is around March 16 and the typical first fall frost around November 15.

Winter low 15°F to 20°F

Typical last frost March 16

Typical first frost November 15

Cities 392

Hardiness zones describe winter cold, not frost timing (why that matters). For dates specific to your town, look up your ZIP code.

Zone 8b Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Jan 19 – Feb 2	—	Mar 23 – Mar 30	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Jan 5 – Jan 19	—	Mar 23 – Apr 6	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Jan 5 – Jan 19	—	Mar 30 – Apr 6	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Feb 16 – Feb 23	Mar 23 – Mar 30	Mar 23 – Mar 30	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Feb 23 – Mar 2	Mar 23 – Apr 6	Mar 23 – Mar 30	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Feb 16 – Feb 23	Mar 23 – Apr 6	Mar 23 – Mar 30	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Mar 23 – Apr 6	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Feb 16 – Feb 23	—	Mar 30 – Apr 6	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Feb 16 – Feb 23	—	Mar 30 – Apr 6	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Mar 16 – Mar 30	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Mar 16 – Mar 30	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Feb 2 – Feb 16	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Feb 16 – Mar 2	—	Sep 20 – Oct 4	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Feb 2 – Feb 16	—	Sep 20 – Oct 4	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Feb 16 – Mar 2	—	Sep 6 – Sep 20	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Feb 16 – Mar 2	—	Oct 4 – Oct 11	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Feb 23 – Mar 9	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	Feb 23 – Mar 2	Sep 13 – Sep 20	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	Mar 2 – Mar 9	Sep 6 – Sep 13	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	Feb 16 – Mar 2	Sep 6 – Sep 20	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	Feb 23 – Mar 9	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Feb 16 – Mar 2	—	Aug 23 – Sep 6	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Feb 16 – Mar 2	—	Sep 6 – Sep 20	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Feb 9 – Feb 23	—	Oct 4 – Oct 18	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Feb 16 – Mar 2	—	Sep 6 – Sep 20	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Jan 5 – Jan 19	—	Feb 16 – Mar 2	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Oct 18 – Nov 1	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Feb 16 – Mar 2	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	Mar 30 – Apr 13	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Feb 16 – Mar 2	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Feb 2 – Feb 9	—	Mar 23 – Mar 30	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Feb 23 – Mar 9	—	Sep 20 – Oct 4	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Jan 19 – Feb 2	—	Mar 2 – Mar 9	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Feb 23 – Mar 9	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Jan 19 – Feb 2	—	Mar 16 – Mar 23	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Jan 19 – Feb 2	—	Mar 16 – Mar 23	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Mar 23 – Apr 6	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Feb 16 – Feb 23	Mar 23 – Apr 6	Mar 23 – Mar 30	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Feb 2 – Feb 16	—	Mar 23 – Mar 30	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Feb 16 – Feb 23	Mar 23 – Apr 6	Mar 23 – Mar 30	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Mar 23 – Apr 6	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Mar 23 – Apr 6	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Cities in Zone 8b

City	Last frost	First frost
Dallas, TX	Mar 2	Nov 29
Fort Worth, TX	Mar 5	Nov 24
El Paso, TX	Mar 2	Nov 20
Virginia Beach, VA	Mar 29	Nov 12
Arlington, TX	Mar 9	Nov 20
Plano, TX	Mar 7	Nov 21
Norfolk, VA	Mar 23	Nov 16
Garland, TX	Mar 7	Nov 21
Irving, TX	Mar 2	Nov 29
Chesapeake, VA	Mar 23	Nov 16
Columbus, GA	Mar 5	Nov 23
Fayetteville, NC	Mar 30	Nov 10
Vancouver, WA	Mar 29	Nov 9
Montgomery, AL	Mar 13	Nov 13
Grand Prairie, TX	Mar 9	Nov 20
Shreveport, LA	Feb 28	Nov 24
Newport News, VA	Mar 16	Nov 26
Eugene, OR	Apr 11	Oct 23
Salem, OR	Apr 3	Nov 1
McKinney, TX	Mar 17	Nov 15
Frisco, TX	Mar 7	Nov 21
Jackson, MS	Mar 6	Nov 19
East Hampton, VA	Mar 24	Nov 15
Mesquite, TX	Mar 2	Nov 29
Columbia, SC	Mar 16	Nov 16
Killeen, TX	Mar 14	Nov 17
Hampton, VA	Mar 24	Nov 15
Carrollton, TX	Mar 2	Nov 29
Midland, TX	Mar 26	Nov 9
Waco, TX	Mar 9	Nov 20
Athens, GA	Mar 23	Nov 10
Victorville, CA	Mar 18	Nov 11
Wilmington, NC	Mar 19	Nov 20
Odessa, TX	Mar 15	Nov 16
Tuscaloosa, AL	Mar 18	Nov 10
Richardson, TX	Mar 7	Nov 21
Everett, WA	Mar 24	Nov 2
Lewisville, TX	Mar 14	Nov 17
Tyler, TX	Mar 7	Nov 21
Hillsboro, OR	Apr 16	Oct 23

States with Zone 8b cities

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the temperature range for Zone 8b?

Zone 8b is defined by an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of 15°F to 20°F (USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map).

When is the last frost in Zone 8b?

Typically around March 16, though it varies by location. Hardiness zones measure winter cold, not frost timing, so two places in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart — check your city's page for local dates.

When is the first frost in Zone 8b?

Typically around November 15 across the cities we track in Zone 8b.

Neighboring zones: Zone 8a · Zone 9a · All zones