Zone 8a Planting Calendar

Every listed crop, timed for zone 8a. Not sure this is your zone? Change it using the zone picker at the top of the page.

This zone has a single frost date, and the windows below are based on it.

Vegetables & Herbs

PlantSpacingWindowMethodStart indoorsDirect sow / transplantEst. harvest
Garlic4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Nov 5–Nov 12~240 days after direct-sowing
Superhot Pepper (Ghost, Reaper, Scorpion)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 7–Jan 14Apr 8–Apr 15~135 days after transplanting
Celery4 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 14–Jan 21Mar 11–Mar 18~120 days after transplanting
Leek9 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 14–Jan 21Mar 4–Mar 11~110 days after transplanting
Rosemary1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 14–Jan 21Apr 8–Apr 15~90 days after transplanting
Pepper1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 8–Apr 15~75 days after transplanting
Onion9 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Mar 4–Mar 11~100 days after transplanting
Eggplant1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 8–Apr 15~75 days after transplanting
Sweet Potato~4 sq ft each—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 15–Apr 22~110 days after transplanting
Thyme4 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 1–Apr 8~90 days after transplanting
Oregano4 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 1–Apr 8~80 days after transplanting
Chives9 per sq ft—EitherJan 28–Feb 4Mar 11–Mar 18~60 days after planting
Parsley4 per sq ft—EitherJan 28–Feb 4Mar 11–Mar 18~75 days after planting
Sage1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 8–Apr 15~75 days after transplanting
Collard Greens1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Mar 4–Mar 11~70 days after planting
Tomato1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Apr 8–Apr 15~70 days after transplanting
Kale1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 11–Feb 18Mar 4–Mar 11~60 days after planting
Pea8 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 11–Feb 18~60 days after direct-sowing
Broccoli1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Mar 11–Mar 18~65 days after transplanting
Cabbage1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Mar 11–Mar 18~70 days after transplanting
Basil4 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Apr 8–Apr 15~60 days after transplanting
Cauliflower1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Mar 11–Mar 18~70 days after transplanting
Brussels Sprouts1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Mar 11–Mar 18~95 days after transplanting
Arugula9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 18–Feb 25~40 days after direct-sowing
Bok Choy1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 18–Feb 25Mar 25–Apr 1~50 days after planting
Kohlrabi4 per sq ft—EitherFeb 18–Feb 25Mar 11–Mar 18~55 days after planting
Fennel (Florence/bulbing)1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 18–Feb 25Apr 8–Apr 15~90 days after planting
Lettuce4 per sq ft—EitherFeb 25–Mar 4Mar 11–Mar 18~45 days after planting
Spinach9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 25–Mar 4~40 days after direct-sowing
Swiss Chard4 per sq ft—EitherFeb 25–Mar 4Mar 11–Mar 18~55 days after planting
Radish16 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 25–Mar 4~25 days after direct-sowing
Okra1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 25–Mar 4Apr 8–Apr 15~58 days after planting
Cucumber2 per sq ft—EitherMar 4–Mar 11Apr 1–Apr 8~55 days after planting
Zucchini1 per sq ft—EitherMar 4–Mar 11Apr 1–Apr 8~50 days after planting
Carrot16 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 4–Mar 11~70 days after direct-sowing
Beet9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 4–Mar 11~55 days after direct-sowing
Cantaloupe~4 sq ft each—EitherMar 4–Mar 11Apr 8–Apr 15~80 days after planting
Turnip9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 4–Mar 11~50 days after direct-sowing
Mustard Greens4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 4–Mar 11~40 days after direct-sowing
Cilantro9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~50 days after direct-sowing
Potato1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~90 days after direct-sowing
Scallion (Green Onion)9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~60 days after direct-sowing
Dill4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 18–Mar 25~55 days after direct-sowing
Winter Squash~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~100 days after direct-sowing
Pumpkin~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~110 days after direct-sowing
Bush Beans9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~55 days after direct-sowing
Sweet Corn1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~75 days after direct-sowing
Watermelon~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 8–Apr 15~85 days after direct-sowing

Flowers

PlantSpacingWindowMethodStart indoorsDirect sow / transplantEst. bloom
Tulip7 per sq ft—Start indoorsAugNov~180 days after transplanting
Daffodil (Narcissus)5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Crocus12 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Hyacinth5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Ornamental Allium5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~195 days after direct-sowing
Dutch Iris4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~210 days after direct-sowing
Ranunculus5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Oct–Dec~105 days after direct-sowing
Pansy / Viola2 per sq ft—Start indoorsDec 31–Jan 7 '27Mar 11–Mar 18~65 days after transplanting
Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 14–Jan 21Apr 8–Apr 15~80 days after transplanting
Petunia1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 21–Jan 28Apr 8–Apr 15~70 days after transplanting
Snapdragon2 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 21–Jan 28Mar 18–Mar 25~90 days after transplanting
Purple Coneflower~4 sq ft each—EitherJan 21–Jan 28Apr 8–Apr 15~365 days after planting
Salvia (Scarlet Sage)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 8–Apr 15~80 days after transplanting
Calendula1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Mar 11–Mar 18~50 days after planting
Black-Eyed Susan1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Mar 4–Mar 11~70 days after planting
Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)3 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Mar 11–Mar 18~75 days after planting
Sweet Alyssum3 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Mar 25–Apr 1~40 days after planting
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 1–Apr 8~80 days after planting
Portulaca (Moss Rose)1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 1–Apr 8~60 days after planting
Celosia2 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 1–Apr 8~80 days after planting
Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 1–Apr 8~90 days after transplanting
Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)2 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 8–Apr 15~98 days after transplanting
Cleome (Spider Flower)1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 8–Apr 15~75 days after planting
Marigold4 per sq ft—EitherFeb 11–Feb 18Apr 1–Apr 8~50 days after planting
Sweet Pea2 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 11–Feb 18~85 days after direct-sowing
Cosmos1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 18–Feb 25Apr 1–Apr 8~70 days after planting
Moonflower2 per sq ft—EitherFeb 18–Feb 25Mar 25–Apr 1~90 days after planting
Zinnia1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 25–Mar 4Apr 1–Apr 8~65 days after planting
Larkspur1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 25–Mar 4~95 days after direct-sowing
Hollyhock~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~180 days after direct-sowing
California Poppy2 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~80 days after direct-sowing
Lupine~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~80 days after direct-sowing
Gladiolus2 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~90 days after direct-sowing
Sunflower~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—Mar 25–Apr 1~80 days after direct-sowing
Nasturtium1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~55 days after direct-sowing
Four O'Clock~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~70 days after direct-sowing
Verbena~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~80 days after direct-sowing
Desert Marigold1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~75 days after direct-sowing
Morning Glory~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 8–Apr 15~75 days after direct-sowing
Dahlia1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 8–Apr 15~90 days after direct-sowing
Lantana~4 sq ft each—Buy as a start—Apr 8–Apr 15~90 days after transplanting
Hyacinth Bean Vine1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 15–Apr 22~90 days after direct-sowing