South Fulton, Georgia: planting zone & frost dates
South Fulton is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 23 and the first fall frost around Nov 13.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Mar 23 | Nov 13 |
| Median (50%) | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station ATLANTA HARTSFIELD INTL AP, GA (USW00013874), 8.1 mi (13.1 km) from the city center and 112 ft higher than the city center (+34 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 29 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across South Fulton
South Fulton spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 7 ZIP codes): 8a (98%), 8b (2%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
Vegetable planting calendar for South Fulton
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 23, first frost Nov 13). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | — | — |
| Pepper | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Mar 9 – Mar 30 | Feb 23 – Apr 6 | Sep 4 – Oct 2 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Mar 30 – May 4 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Mar 30 – Apr 27 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Feb 23 – Mar 2 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Cucumber | Feb 23 – Mar 2 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 2 – Apr 6 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Onion | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Feb 23 – Mar 16 | — | — |
| Basil | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Feb 9 – Mar 9 | Sep 18 – Oct 16 |
| Kale | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Feb 23 – Mar 16 | Feb 23 – Mar 16 | Sep 4 – Oct 2 |
| Broccoli | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 9 – Mar 30 | — | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Peas | — | — | Feb 9 – Mar 2 | Sep 4 – Sep 18 |
| Eggplant | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | — | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Radish | — | — | Feb 16 – Apr 6 | Oct 2 – Oct 30 |
| Strawberry | — | Feb 23 – Mar 16 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 2 – Apr 13 | Sep 4 – Sep 18 |
Nearby cities in Georgia
- Mableton — zone 8a, last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 3
- Atlanta — zone 8a, last frost Mar 31, first frost Nov 1
- Sandy Springs — zone 8a, last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 2
- Roswell — zone 8a, last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 2
- Johns Creek — zone 8a, last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 2
- Columbus — zone 8b, last frost Mar 14, first frost Nov 16
More: all Georgia cities · other zone 8a cities: Charlotte, NC, Memphis, TN, Atlanta, GA, Raleigh, NC, Greensboro, NC, Durham, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, Chesapeake, VA
South Fulton gardening questions
When is the last frost in South Fulton, GA?
Plan around Mar 23. At NOAA's Atlanta Hartsfield Int'l Airport, GA station, 8.1 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Mar 15, and after Apr 4 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Feb 28. The 90% and 10% dates are 40 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in South Fulton, GA?
Start seeds indoors Jan 26 – Feb 9 and set transplants outside Mar 30 – Apr 13, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 235 days between the 30% frost dates, enough for most varieties including 80–85-day slicers. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in South Fulton?
About 252 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 226 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 281 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 4 and a 30% chance by Nov 13. That ranks 5th longest of 12 Georgia cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in South Fulton?
Count back from the first fall frost (Nov 13): transplant broccoli Aug 21 – Sep 4; sow kale Sep 4 – Oct 2; sow lettuce Sep 4 – Oct 2; sow radishes Oct 2 – Oct 30. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Dec 5. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did South Fulton's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, South Fulton is zone 8a on both the 2012 and the 2023 USDA maps (PRISM/OSU ZIP listings). About 42% of U.S. ZIP codes kept their half-zone in 2023. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
Is all of South Fulton in zone 8a?
No. Zone 8a covers about 98% of the city's land; the rest is in 8b (2%), measured across the city's 7 ZIP codes. Check your own ZIP code in the table above or with the ZIP lookup.