Georgia growing guide: zones, planting dates and where to start

Zones across Georgia

Georgia covers USDA Zones 7a–9a on our calendar. A date that works in one part of the state can be weeks off in another, so plant by your zone, not the state.

• Zone 7a — North Georgia mountains. Average last frost 04/15, first frost 10/15 (about 183 frost-free days).
• Zone 7b — Northwest Georgia valleys. Average last frost 04/08, first frost 10/22 (about 197 frost-free days).
• Zone 8a — Atlanta and the piedmont. Average last frost 03/28, first frost 11/05 (about 222 frost-free days).
• Zone 8b — Savannah and the coastal plain. Average last frost 03/15, first frost 11/15 (about 245 frost-free days).
• Zone 9a — Southern Georgia coast. Average last frost 02/25, first frost 12/01 (about 279 frost-free days).

Spring dates for Atlanta and the piedmont (Zone 8a)

• Peppers: set out April 11 – May 2; fall August 6 – August 27
• Tomatoes: set out April 4 – April 25; fall July 23 – August 13
• Sweet corn: seed March 28 – April 18; fall August 6 – August 27
• Summer squash: seed April 4 – April 25; fall August 27 – September 17
• Cucumbers: set out April 4 – April 25; fall August 20 – September 10
• Green beans (bush): seed March 28 – April 18; fall August 20 – September 10
• Broccoli: set out February 28 – March 21; fall July 23 – August 13
• Watermelon: set out April 11 – May 2

These are averages worked out from frost dates, not a state extension schedule. Adjust for your field and the season.

Published costs per acre

• 2026 Bell Peppers on Plastic Budget (University of Georgia CAES — Agricultural & Applied Economics, 2026): about $19,423 per acre.
• 2026 Sweet Corn — Irrigated Budget (University of Georgia CAES — Agricultural & Applied Economics, 2026): about $5,249 per acre.
• 2025 Squash on Bareground Budget (University of Georgia CAES — Agricultural & Applied Economics, 2025): about $3,334 per acre.
• 2026 Spring Cucumber on Plastic Budget (University of Georgia CAES — Agricultural & Applied Economics, 2026): about $4,298 per acre.
• 2026 Spring Snap Beans Budget (University of Georgia CAES — Agricultural & Applied Economics, 2026): about $2,023 per acre.
• 2022 Broccoli Budget (University of Georgia CAES — Agricultural & Applied Economics, 2022): about $2,745 per acre.
• 2026 Watermelon Budget (University of Georgia CAES — Agricultural & Applied Economics, 2026): about $3,251 per acre.
• 2026 Strawberry Budget (University of Georgia CAES — Agricultural & Applied Economics, 2026): about $9,782 per acre.

Where to sell in Georgia

• State buy-local program: the Georgia Department of Agriculture runs Georgia Grown. Members can be listed for grocery, restaurant and school buyers looking for in-state product — ask about joining and any marketing directories.
• Established market: Atlanta State Farmers Market (Forest Park), one of the largest open-air wholesale markets in the Southeast. Visit on a market morning and talk to the produce dealers before you plant, not after harvest.
• Farmers markets, CSAs and on-farm stands: the USDA Local Food Directories list them by state, so you can see who already sells near you and which markets still need your crop.
• Schools and institutions: ask your state's farm-to-school contact (usually through the agriculture or education department) what they buy and when.
• Buyers on BAU: buyers post what they need on the marketplace, and you can list your crop window there for free.

Call before you count on any buyer: programs and market hours change, and a price talked through in winter is worth more than one found at harvest.

Farm taxes in Georgia

• Income tax: State income tax moving to a single flat rate that is scheduled to step down.
• Sales tax on inputs: Farm inputs and equipment are exempt with a GATE card (Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption) issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture — show it at the counter.
• Farmland property tax: Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA): a 10-year covenant taxes farmland on its farm use; apply through the county tax assessor.

Rates and forms change. Confirm with the state revenue department or a farm tax preparer before you file — this is a plain-language guide, not tax advice. Our farm tax estimator covers the federal deductions every state shares.

Grants and cost-share in Georgia

• Specialty Crop Block Grant (Georgia Department of Agriculture)
• Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission watershed cost-share projects (only in listed watersheds)
• Georgia Grown marketing program (Department of Agriculture)
• USDA NRCS EQIP cost-share and FSA microloans through your county USDA service center
• Southern SARE farmer and rancher grants for on-farm trials

See the grant tracker for deadlines we follow.

Who to call

• UGA Cooperative Extension and Fort Valley State Extension — county offices for soil tests, varieties and pest help
• Your county USDA service center (FSA and NRCS) for loans, cost-share and farm numbers