Last spring freeze
Mar 24
median (50%)
8 in 10 years Mar 2 – Apr 10
Only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze after Apr 10.
Atlanta, GA · NOAA frost dates
Atlanta frost dates & planting calendar
Last spring freeze ~Mar 24, first fall freeze ~Nov 8: a median of 229 frost-free days. The calendar below is already set to Atlanta (ZIP 30303). Type your own ZIP for the station nearest you.
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Atlanta, GA · ZIP 30303 · try yours
Atlanta GA area
Last spring frost
~Mar 24
safer: Apr 10
First fall frost
~Nov 8
safer: Oct 27
Growing season
229
frost-free days
- Start indoors
- Sow outside
- Transplant
- Fall planting
- Harvest
Median dates from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Averages, not forecasts. How it works
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals
Atlanta frost dates at a glance
32°F freeze dates for the Atlanta Fulton Co Ap, GA weather station, 12 km from ZIP 30303, 256 m up.
First fall freeze
Nov 8
median (50%)
8 in 10 years Oct 27 – Nov 26
Only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze before Oct 27.
Growing season
229
median frost-free days
USDA zone 8a
Station: Atlanta Fulton Co Ap, GA
Long-term averages, not a forecast. Your yard can run one to three weeks off these dates, so check the 10-day forecast before planting out.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F freeze probabilities: 10%, 50%, 90%). Public domain. How we use it
Planting dates for Atlanta
When to plant in Atlanta
Worked out from the median frost dates (and, for warm-season crops, NOAA’s normal night lows) with the same crop rules as the calendar below. Tap any crop there for its dates.
-
Tomatoes
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Transplant out
- Apr 18 – May 9
Frost alone would allow transplanting from Mar 31, but the normal night low here only reaches 50°F (10°C) about Apr 18, so they go out then, started indoors 9 weeks before. Transplant when nights stay above 50°F (10°C).
-
Peppers
- Start indoors
- Jan 24 – Feb 7
- Transplant out
- Apr 18 – May 2
Frost alone would allow transplanting from Apr 7, but the normal night low here only reaches 50°F (10°C) about Apr 18, so they go out then, started indoors 12 weeks before. Loves warm soil, 65°F+ (18°C+).
-
Peas
- Sow outside
- Feb 10 – Mar 3
- Fall sowing
- Aug 30 – Sep 13
3–6 weeks before the last frost, and again 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost. Sow as soon as soil can be worked (40°F/4°C+).
-
Lettuce
- Sow outside
- Feb 24 – Apr 7
- Fall sowing
- Sep 13 – Oct 11
From 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost, and 4–8 weeks before the first fall frost. Bolts in heat; sow small batches often.
-
Garlic
- Plant cloves
- Oct 25 – Nov 29
- Harvest
- May 26 – Jun 16, next year
2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant cloves in fall; harvest next summer when lower leaves brown.
This week
Right now in your garden
Full year
Your planting calendar
- Start indoors
- Sow outside
- Transplant
- Fall sowing / planting
- Harvest
- Harvest the season after planting
- Est. frost date
No crops match. Try another search, or clear “My picks”.
Tap ☆ to add a crop to your picks. Tap a crop name for exact dates and growing notes. Your picks and location are saved on this device.
Straight answers
Frost questions
When is the last frost in Atlanta?
The median last spring freeze (32°F) at NOAA’s Atlanta Fulton Co Ap, GA station is Mar 24, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. In 8 of 10 years it falls between Mar 2 and Apr 10, and there is only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze after Apr 10.
When is the first fall frost in Atlanta?
The median first fall freeze (32°F) is Nov 8. In 8 of 10 years it falls between Oct 27 and Nov 26, and there is only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze before Oct 27. That leaves a median of 229 frost-free days.
When should I plant tomatoes in Atlanta?
Using FrostLine’s crop rules with the median last frost of Mar 24 and NOAA’s normal night lows: start tomato seeds indoors Feb 14 – Feb 28 and transplant them outside Apr 18 – May 9. Frost alone would allow Mar 31, but nights here only average 50°F (10°C) from about Apr 18.
Are these dates a forecast?
No. They are long-term averages, not a forecast for this year. Your own garden can differ by one to three weeks with elevation, slope, wind and how built-up it is. Check the 10-day forecast before setting out tender plants, and enter your own ZIP for the nearest station.
How it works: each ZIP is matched to the nearest NOAA station with freeze records. More on our method.
Frost dates by city
More frost dates by city
Each page opens the same free calendar, set to that city. Or start from the home page.
- CO · zone 6a Denver Last frost ~Apr 30First frost ~Oct 12 165 frost-free days
- IL · zone 6b Chicago Last frost ~Apr 10First frost ~Nov 5 209 frost-free days
- WA · zone 9a Seattle Last frost ~Mar 13First frost ~Nov 17 249 frost-free days
- TX · zone 8a Dallas Last frost ~Mar 2First frost ~Nov 29 272 frost-free days
- MN · zone 4b Minneapolis Last frost ~Apr 23First frost ~Oct 16 176 frost-free days
- OR · zone 8b Portland Last frost ~Feb 25First frost ~Dec 1 279 frost-free days
- MA · zone 7a Boston Last frost ~Apr 4First frost ~Nov 9 219 frost-free days
- TN · zone 7a Nashville Last frost ~Apr 1First frost ~Oct 31 213 frost-free days
- UT · zone 7a Salt Lake City Last frost ~Mar 31First frost ~Nov 8 222 frost-free days