Planting Zone 8b
Min winter temp 15 to 20°F · last frost ~March · first frost ~November
In Zone 8b, the average last spring frost is around March and the first fall frost around November, about a 245-day growing season. Start tender crops indoors before the last frost and move them out once it passes.
Zone 8b planting schedule and calendar
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Peppers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cucumbers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Lettuce | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Zucchini | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Carrots | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Peas | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Broccoli | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Spinach | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Kale | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Onions | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Garlic | ||||||||||||
| Potatoes | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Squash (winter) | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Corn | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Radishes | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Beets | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Eggplant | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Basil | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cilantro | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Parsley | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Pumpkins | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Sunflowers | ● | ● |
What to plant this fall in Zone 8b
Fall planting in Zone 8b is arithmetic, not guesswork. The average first frost lands around November 15, so a crop needs its days to maturity, plus about two weeks for the slower growth of shortening days, to fit before then. Hardy crops get some of that back because they keep going past a light frost.
| Crop | Sow by | Fall harvest | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radishes | Oct 25 | Nov 22 | ~28 |
| Cilantro | Oct 1 | Nov 15 | ~45 |
| Kale | Sep 30 | Nov 29 | ~60 |
| Beets | Sep 28 | Nov 22 | ~55 |
| Lettuce | Sep 26 | Nov 15 | ~50 |
| Carrots | Sep 20 | Nov 29 | ~70 |
| Broccoli | Sep 18 | Nov 22 | ~65 |
| Peas | Sep 16 | Nov 15 | ~60 |
| Zucchini | Aug 24 | Oct 18 | ~55 |
| Beans (bush) | Aug 24 | Oct 18 | ~55 |
| Cucumbers | Aug 19 | Oct 18 | ~60 |
| Potatoes | Aug 13 | Nov 11 | ~90 |
| Tomatoes | Aug 4 | Oct 18 | ~75 |
| Peppers | Jul 30 | Oct 18 | ~80 |
| Eggplant | Jul 25 | Oct 18 | ~85 |
Planted in fall to stand through a Zone 8b winter: garlic (Nov 15 to Dec 13) , onions (Oct 4 to Oct 25) , spinach (Oct 4 to Oct 18) , parsley (Oct 4 to Oct 18) .
More on the method: the fall planting calendar by zone, when to plant garlic and how to stretch your first frost date.
When to plant popular crops in Zone 8b
Tomatoes
~75 days
When to plant
Peppers
~80 days
When to plant
Cucumbers
~60 days
When to plant
Lettuce
~50 days
When to plantCities in Zone 8b, with their own local frost dates: Seattle, WA frost dates .
Seasonal reading for Zone 8b
- What to plant in October by zone
The October sowing and planting list for Zone 8b.
- What to plant in November by zone
What still goes in the ground in November in Zone 8b.
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How many weeks a cold frame adds to the Zone 8b season, and what to grow in it.
- October garden checklist
The jobs to finish before the first hard freeze in Zone 8b.
- Winter sowing guide
Winter sowing dates for Zone 8b.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor seed-starting dates counted from the Zone 8b last frost.
- What changed in the 2023 USDA zone map
Whether the 2023 USDA map moved Zone 8b, and what that changes.
- Companion planting chart
Which crops to plant together once you know your dates.
Nearby zones
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Zone 8b?
On average, the last spring frost in Zone 8b is around March; the first fall frost is around November.
What can I grow in Zone 8b?
Nearly all common vegetables and herbs grow in Zone 8b; the difference is timing. Use the planting calendar above, calculated from Zone 8b frost dates.
What can I plant in the fall in Zone 8b?
radishes (sow by Oct 25), cilantro (sow by Oct 1), kale (sow by Sep 30), beets (sow by Sep 28), lettuce (sow by Sep 26), carrots (sow by Sep 20). Each date is counted back from the Zone 8b average first frost around November 15.
How long is the growing season in Zone 8b?
About 245 days between the average last spring and first fall frost.