Zone calendars · 6 min read
Vegetable Planting Calendar for USDA Zone 8
Direct-seed and transplant windows for Zone 8 farms, including the fall window that carries most Southeast wholesale revenue.
USDA Zone 8 covers most of NC, SC, GA, and AL — average last frost around April 1, first fall frost around November 5. About 220 frost-free days, and a real Feb window for cold-tolerant transplants.
Spring — direct seed
- Feb 15–Mar 5: peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, turnip.
- Mar 10–25: beets, carrots, chard, potatoes.
- Apr 5–20: beans, sweet corn, cucumber, summer squash.
- Apr 20–May 10: okra, southern peas, watermelon direct.
Spring — transplant
- Feb 15–Mar 5: broccoli, cabbage, kale, collards.
- Apr 5–20: tomato, pepper, eggplant, watermelon, cantaloupe.
- May 1–15: sweet potato slips.
Fall — the highest-margin window in the Southeast
- Aug 1–15: transplant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower (Zone 8 fall bulk).
- Aug 15–Sep 10: direct seed kale, collards, turnip, radish, spinach.
- Sep 1–20: lettuce (transplant), garlic (direct).
Overwinter
Spinach, kale, and garlic planted in Sep–Oct hold through winter and harvest Feb–Apr — highest wholesale prices of the year for greens.
Run this in BAU, not a spreadsheet
The planner, calculator, and buyer marketplace are included on every plan.