Atlanta, Georgia · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Atlanta

This month's sowing list for Atlanta, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

29 vegetables to sow or plant now

18 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around March 27, and frost is unlikely after about April 17.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish, bok choy, arugula, cilantro, scallions and Swiss chard.

Sow or plant in Atlanta in October

Start seeds indoors

Cabbage
Cauliflower
Leek
Onion

Direct sow

Arugula
Bok choy
Cilantro
Fava beans
Kale
Lettuce
Parsnip
Peas
Radish
Scallions
Spinach
Swiss chard
Beets
Carrot
Chives
Dill
Parsley
Rutabaga
Turnip

Transplant

Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Celeriac
Garlic
Kale
Onion
Strawberry
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Celery
Chives
Leek
Parsley

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.

Last month to start: arugula, beets, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.

Ready to pick in October

Arugula
Basil
Beets
Bell pepper
Bok choy
Broccoli
Bush beans
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Chives
Cilantro
Cucumber
Dill
Hot pepper
Kale
Lettuce
Parsley
Pole beans
Radish
Runner beans
Scallions
Strawberry
Sweet corn
Swiss chard
Tomato
Turnip
Winter squash
Zucchini

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Atlanta

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: March to June.

Transplant: April to August.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 15 weeks after starting.

Potatoes

Plant: March to April.

Best time to start: March to April.

Pick: June to August.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Plant: September to December.

Best time to start: September to December.

Pick: April to July.

First pick about 24 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Direct sow: September to October and December to April.

Best time to start: January to April and September to October.

Pick: April to June and October to February.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Carrots

Direct sow: August to May.

Best time to start: January to April and August to September.

Pick: October to August.

First pick about 11 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Direct sow: April to August.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Onions

Start seeds indoors: August to March.

Transplant: October to April.

Best time to start: October to April.

Pick: April to July.

First pick about 27 weeks after starting.

Strawberries

Plant: February to May and September to December.

Best time to start: February to May and September to December.

Pick: April to October.

First pick about 19 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: April to July.

Direct sow: April to July.

Transplant: April to July.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: April to August.

Direct sow: April to August.

Transplant: April to September.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Atlanta

Start seeds indoors
Direct sow
Transplant
Pick
Paler: possible, but not the best time

Vegetable	O	N	D	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	First pick
Arugula	S			S	S	S	S	S				S	about 5 weeks
Basil						T	T	S	S	S	S	P	about 7 weeks
Beets	S		S		S	S	S	S			S	S	about 7 weeks
Bell pepper						T	P	P	P	P	P		about 16 weeks
Bok choy	S			S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 4 weeks
Broccoli	P	T	P	T	P	P	P				T	P	about 14 weeks
Brussels sprouts	P									T	T	P	about 30 weeks
Bush beans							S	S	S	S	S		about 7 weeks
Cabbage	P	P	P	T	P	P	P	P			T	P	about 17 weeks
Cantaloupe							T	S	S	S			about 9 weeks
Carrot	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S			S	S	about 11 weeks
Cauliflower	P	P	P								T	P	about 24 weeks
Celeriac	P	P	T		P	P				T	T	P	about 34 weeks
Celery	P	P	T	T	P	P	P			T	T	P	about 29 weeks
Chives	S	S		T	S	S	S	S	S	T	T	S	about 9 weeks
Cilantro	S				S	S	S					S	about 6 weeks
Cucumber							S	S	S	S	S		about 6 weeks
Dill	S				S	S	S	S				S	about 6 weeks
Eggplant						T	P	P	P	P			about 17 weeks
Fava beans	S	S	S	S									about 18 weeks
Garlic	P	P	P									P	about 24 weeks
Hot pepper						T	P	P	P	P			about 18 weeks
Kale	S		S	S	S	S	S	P			T	S	about 8 weeks
Leek	P	P	P	P	P	P	P			T	T	P	about 26 weeks
Lettuce	S		S	S	S	S	S					S	about 8 weeks
Okra								S	S	S	S		about 6 weeks
Onion	P	P	P	P	P	P	P				T	T	about 27 weeks
Parsley	S	S		T	S	S	S	S	P	T	T	S	about 9 weeks
Parsnip	S	S										S	about 25 weeks
Peas	S	S	S	S	S	S	S					S	about 13 weeks
Pole beans							S	S	S	S	S		about 8 weeks
Potato						P	P						about 10 weeks
Radish	S	S		S	S	S	S	S				S	about 3 weeks
Runner beans											S		about 9 weeks
Rutabaga	S	S	S	S								S	about 21 weeks
Scallions	S		S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 6 weeks
Spinach	S		S	S	S	S							about 8 weeks
Strawberry	P	P	P		P	P	P	P				P	about 19 weeks
Sweet corn							S	S	S	S	S		about 8 weeks
Sweet potato								P	P	P			about 11 weeks
Swiss chard	S		S		S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 6 weeks
Tomato						T	P	P	P	P	P		about 15 weeks
Turnip	S		S	S	S	S	S					S	about 8 weeks
Watermelon							T	S	S	S			about 9 weeks
Winter squash							S	S	S	S			about 12 weeks
Zucchini							S	S	S	S	S	P	about 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Atlanta season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: basil, bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, potato, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celeriac, celery, cilantro, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, peas, potato, radish, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, kale, leek, onion and runner beans.

Last chance for: bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, runner beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon and winter squash.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, cilantro, dill, fava beans, garlic, lettuce, parsnip, peas, radish, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Last chance for: arugula, basil, beets, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip and zucchini.

Winter December to February

Time to start: arugula, beets, bok choy, celeriac, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, radish, scallions, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Last chance for: beets, cauliflower, celeriac, fava beans, garlic, rutabaga, strawberry and Swiss chard.

Frost in Atlanta

Last frost, most years: around March 27
Frost is unlikely after: about April 17
First frost, most years: around November 7
Frost-free days in a year: about 225

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Questions about planting in Atlanta

What can I plant now in Atlanta?

In October, 29 vegetables can be sown or planted in Atlanta, including arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot and cauliflower. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Atlanta?

In Atlanta, sow tomatoes indoors from March to June and transplant them from April to August. The best time to start is from April to July. Picking runs from July to October.

When should I plant potatoes in Atlanta?

In Atlanta, plant potatoes from March to April. The best time to start is from March to April. Picking runs from June to August.

When should I plant garlic in Atlanta?

In Atlanta, plant garlic from September to December. The best time to start is from September to December. Picking runs from April to July.

When is the last frost in Atlanta?

In most years the last frost in Atlanta comes around March 27. Frost is unlikely after about April 17, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 7.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Atlanta?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), cucumber (about 6 weeks), scallions (about 6 weeks), Swiss chard (about 6 weeks) and zucchini (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

What to plant now in New York · What to plant now in Boston · What to plant now in Chicago · What to plant now in Dallas · What to plant now in Houston · What to plant now in Austin · What to plant now in Denver · What to plant now in Phoenix · What to plant now in Seattle · What to plant now in Portland · What to plant now in Los Angeles · What to plant now in San Diego

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Atlanta. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).