Georgia Planting Calendar: What to Plant and When
Georgia gardeners can plant or harvest something during much of the year, but the state has two major vegetable planting periods: spring and fall. The trick is that Georgia is long enough north-to-south that one statewide date cannot fit every garden.
About these Georgia planting windows
GA Garden uses University of Georgia Cooperative Extension guidance as the baseline for statewide planting windows. UGA notes that its standard calendar is centered on Middle Georgia (roughly the Columbus–Macon–Augusta belt). Spring planting can be about 2–3 weeks earlier in extreme South Georgia and 1–3 weeks later in North Georgia; fall planting can be later in the south and about two weeks earlier in the north. Always adjust for your local frost dates, soil temperature and current weather.
Georgia's Three Practical Planting Regions
North Georgia
Spring generally arrives later and fall frost earlier. Shift many Middle Georgia spring dates roughly 1–3 weeks later and fall dates about two weeks earlier, then adjust for elevation and local frost history.
Middle Georgia
UGA's statewide planting charts are commonly centered on Middle Georgia, making this region the baseline for the calendar below.
South Georgia
Spring planting can begin earlier and the fall window can extend later than in Middle Georgia. Heat becomes the limiting factor for many cool-season crops.
Middle Georgia Vegetable Planting Calendar
These are planning windows distilled from UGA vegetable planting guidance. Use the linked crop guide for deeper Georgia-specific care, companion planting, pests and harvest information.
| Crop | Spring window | Fall / second window |
|---|---|---|
| Beans | Mid-March–May/June, by type | July–early August |
| Beets | Mid-February–early April | August–September |
| Broccoli | Mid-February–mid-March | August–September |
| Cabbage | Mid-January–mid-March | Mid-August–early October |
| Carrots | Mid-January–March | Late August–mid-September |
| Collards | March–early April | Summer planting for fall harvest |
| Corn | Late winter/spring through mid-May, weather permitting | Late-summer plantings are possible in some guidance |
| Cucumbers | April–mid-May | July |
| Lettuce | Cool spring window | September–October |
| Okra | After frost and warm soil | Warm-season crop |
| Onions | Winter into early spring, depending on type | Fall establishment is important for short-day onions |
| Garden peas | Mid-January–mid-February | Usually not the main fall crop in standard chart |
| Peppers | April–June after frost | Warm-season production continues until cold |
| Irish potatoes | Mid-January–early March | Early to mid-August |
| Radishes | Mid-January–early April | September–mid-October |
| Spinach | Mid-January–mid-March | September–mid-October |
| Summer squash | April–mid-May | August |
| Sweet potatoes | Mid-April–mid-June | Warm-season crop |
| Tomatoes | Late March–early May | Early-summer planting can produce a fall crop |
| Turnips | Mid-January–early April | August–mid-September |
| Watermelon | Late March–early May | Not a standard fall crop |
Plant by Season, Not Just Month
Spring is the transition from peas, roots and brassicas into tomatoes, peppers, beans and cucurbits. Summer favors heat lovers such as okra and southern peas while also beginning the fall-garden countdown. Fall brings brassicas, roots and leafy crops back into focus. Winter is both a growing season for hardy crops and a planning season for the year ahead.
Frost Dates Are Guides, Not Guarantees
Average frost dates summarize past weather; they do not promise the date of the final or first freeze in a particular year. Tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and okra belong after frost danger, while many cool-season crops can be planted well before the frost-free date.
Understand Georgia last frost dates → Understand Georgia first frost dates →
Companion Planting + Calendar Planning
The best companion pair is useless if the crops want different seasons. Start with planting windows, then match plants by sunlight, water, mature size and crop family. Use companion planting for diversity and efficient bed design, and use rotation to avoid repeatedly planting the same family in the same soil.
Keep Exploring GA Garden
Georgia Planting Calendar · Companion Planting · Growing Guides · Vegetables · Herbs · Companion Planting · Pest & Disease Help · Harvesting
Research baseline: University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable gardening, planting-chart, school-garden calendar and home-gardening guidance. Regional dates are planning ranges and should be adjusted for local weather and frost conditions.