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Zone 8B Vegetable Planting Calendar

When can you plant in Zone 8B? In Zone 8B, outdoor sowing opens with cool-season crops like Lettuce and Spinach in January, and warm-season crops like Tomato follow after the ~March 10 last frost. The season runs about 250 frost-free days, until ~November 15. The calendar below scores all 35 crops month by month.

Scored per crop from your zone's frost dates, each crop's days-to-maturity, and typical soil temperatures — honestly, including when not to plant.

A zone caveat: USDA zones reflect winter lows, not summer heat — this calendar is a zone-level guide. For timing tuned to your exact zip code, sun, and soil, get your free AI garden plan.

Last frost (50/50 date)
~March 10
First frost (50/50 date)
~November 15

A single frost date is a coin flip dressed up as a fact: these are the 50/50 dates, and about half of years see frost past them. Across 4,330 NOAA stations, frost odds typically stay near 1 in 3 for about a week past the date and don't drop below 1 in 10 until roughly 16 days past it — cautious growers wait those two-plus weeks; gamblers plant on the date and keep row cover handy. The free AI plan reads the real percentile dates for your zip and lets you pick your risk.

Good — plant now Risky — possible with care Off-season — wait

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Plus a short what-to-plant-now note for Zone 8B each month.

Zone 8B monthly planting guide — status and reason per crop and month
CropJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Cool-season crops
LettuceGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
SpinachGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
KaleGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Swiss ChardGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ArugulaGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — wait
CarrotGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
RadishGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — wait
BeetGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BroccoliGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CabbageGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CauliflowerGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PeasGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
OnionGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PotatoGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CilantroGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ParsleyGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Fall-planted bulbs
GarlicRisky — possible with careOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant now
Warm-season crops
TomatoOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PepperOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
EggplantOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BasilOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
ZucchiniOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CucumberOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
BeanOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CornOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
PumpkinOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
SunflowerOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Heat lovers
OkraOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Sweet PotatoOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
WatermelonOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
CantaloupeOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowGood — plant nowOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — waitOff-season — wait
Perennial herbs
RosemaryGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant now
ThymeGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant now
OreganoGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant now
ChivesGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careRisky — possible with careGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant nowGood — plant now

When to Start Seeds Indoors vs. Direct Sow in Zone 8B

In Zone 8B, start Onion, Rosemary, Eggplant and other transplants indoors 5–10 weeks before your ~March 10 last frost, then set them out once it passes. Arugula, Bean, Beet and the other direct-sow crops go straight into the bed. Exact indoor start dates for every crop are below.

Zone 8B seed-starting guide — sowing method and indoor start date per crop
CropHow to startStart seeds indoors
OnionStart indoors, then transplantor plant sets for a shortcut~Dec 30 (10 wks before last frost)
RosemaryStart indoors, then transplantpainfully slow from seed — a nursery plant is the honest shortcut~Dec 30 (10 wks before last frost)
EggplantStart indoors, then transplant~Jan 13 (8 wks before last frost)
OreganoStart indoors, then transplant~Jan 13 (8 wks before last frost)
PepperStart indoors, then transplant~Jan 13 (8 wks before last frost)
ThymeStart indoors, then transplant~Jan 13 (8 wks before last frost)
Sweet PotatoStart indoors, then transplantgrown from slips (sprouted tubers), not seed~Jan 27 (6 wks before last frost)
TomatoStart indoors, then transplant~Jan 27 (6 wks before last frost)
BroccoliStart indoors, then transplant~Feb 3 (5 wks before last frost)
CabbageStart indoors, then transplant~Feb 3 (5 wks before last frost)
CauliflowerStart indoors, then transplant~Feb 3 (5 wks before last frost)
ChivesEither works~Jan 13 (8 wks before last frost)
ParsleyEither worksgermination takes 2–3 weeks — be patient~Jan 13 (8 wks before last frost)
KaleEither works~Feb 3 (5 wks before last frost)
BasilEither works~Feb 10 (4 wks before last frost)
LettuceEither works~Feb 10 (4 wks before last frost)
OkraEither works~Feb 10 (4 wks before last frost)
Swiss ChardEither works~Feb 10 (4 wks before last frost)
CantaloupeEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Feb 17 (3 wks before last frost)
CucumberEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Feb 17 (3 wks before last frost)
PumpkinEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Feb 17 (3 wks before last frost)
WatermelonEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Feb 17 (3 wks before last frost)
ZucchiniEither worksdirect sowing is simpler — cucurbits hate root disturbance~Feb 17 (3 wks before last frost)
ArugulaDirect sow in the bed
BeanDirect sow in the bedrots in cold, wet soil — wait for warmth
BeetDirect sow in the bed
CarrotDirect sow in the bedtaproot — never transplants well
CilantroDirect sow in the bedtaproot + quick to bolt — sow in place
CornDirect sow in the bed
GarlicDirect sow in the bedplant cloves in fall
PeasDirect sow in the bed
PotatoDirect sow in the bedfrom seed potatoes, not seed
RadishDirect sow in the bed
SpinachDirect sow in the bedresents transplanting — sow where it grows
SunflowerDirect sow in the bedtaproot — sow in place

Planting a fall garden? Count the indoor weeks back from your transplant date instead of the spring frost — the free AI plan's prep runway computes that per plant, including hardening-off days.

Zone 8B Planting FAQ

When is the last frost in Zone 8B?

Around March 10 — and that's the 50/50 date, not a guarantee: about half of years see frost after it. Cautious growers wait roughly two extra weeks; gamblers plant on the date and keep row cover handy.

When is the first fall frost in Zone 8B?

Around November 15 on average. Count backward from it when planning fall crops: a 70-day crop needs to be in the ground at least 10 weeks earlier, plus a buffer for shortening days.

When should I start seeds indoors in Zone 8B?

It depends on the crop's lead time: peppers ~Jan 13, tomatos ~Jan 27, broccolis ~Feb 3 — generally 5–10 weeks before the ~March 10 last frost. The seed-starting table on this page lists every crop.

How long is the growing season in Zone 8B?

Roughly 250 frost-free days, from about March 10 to November 15. Crops whose days-to-maturity fit comfortably inside that window are the reliable ones — the calendar above scores exactly that.

What vegetables can you grow in Zone 8B?

This calendar tracks 35 crops for Zone 8B — Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard, and more — with honest month-by-month verdicts including when NOT to plant. For a layout tuned to your exact zip code and bed size, the free AI plan does the placing for you.

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Plus a short what-to-plant-now note for Zone 8B each month.