One of the best tools that you have as a gardener to help figure out your gardening schedule is the USDA zone info. The zone information's most crucial data reveals the average last frost and the lowest expected temperature for your area.
To determine the appropriate planting time for winter squash, you can utilize the USDA zone information for the 8a region.
Planting Calendar for Winter Squash
| Frost tolerance for winter squash | Not tolerant of frost |
| When to plant | After all chance of frost has passed |
Since winter squash cannot tolerate cold, you must wait until there is no risk of frost before planting it.
Visual Calendar for Winter Squash
Planting Calendar for Winter Squash in Zone 8a
Key dates to remember:
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Start seeds indoors: | Jan 15 |
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Direct sow seeds: | Apr 1 |
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Transplant starts outside: | Apr 15 |
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Summer harvest time: | May 15 |
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Start winter crop: | Aug 15 |
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Start over-winter: | Nov 15 |
Last Frost Date for Zone 8a
The average date of last frost is March 15 in zone 8a. It might get as low as 10°F (-12°C) during the coldest months of winter.
As the USDA zone information for zone 8a is only an average, the actual date of your last frost will differ annually. Since every microclimate is different, you should also watch the weather forecast closely as you get close to planting time. Watch the weather forecast before planting outside, and have frost protection ready if low temperatures are expected.
USDA Info for Zone 8a
Here is the info for USDA zone 8a.
| Average Date of Last Frost (spring) | March 15 |
| Average Date of First Frost (fall) | 2015-11-15 |
| Lowest Expected Low | 10°F (-12°C) |
| Highest Expected Low | 15°F (-9°C) |
This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is 10°F (-12°C). On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near 15°F (-9°C).
Other Plants to Grow in Zone 8a
You may be interested in our other planting guides for zone 8a.
Vegetables in Zone 8a
- Amaranth
- Artichokes
- Arugula
- Asparagus
- Beans
- Beets
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chervil
- Collard Greens
- Corn
- Cornsalad
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Green Onions
- Honeydew Melons
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Melons
- Okra
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Peas
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Radicchio
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Rutabaga
- Shallots
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Summer Squash
- Sweet Potatoes
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatilloes
- Tomatoes
- Turnips
- Watercress
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Zucchini
Herbs in Zone 8a
Flowers in Zone 8a
- Alyssum
- Amaranth
- Anemones
- Asters
- Bachelors Buttons
- Begonias
- Bells of Ireland
- Black-eyed Susans
- Bleeding Hearts
- Calendula
- Carnations
- Chinese Lanterns
- Chrysanthemums
- Clematis
- Coleus
- Columbine
- Coneflowers
- Coreopsis
- Cornflowers
- Cosmos
- Crocus
- Daffodils
- Dahlia
- Daisies
- Daylilies
- Delphiniums
- Dianthus
- Dusty Miller
- Echinacea
- Foxgloves
- Geraniums
- Hellebores
- Heuchera
- Hibiscus
- Hollyhocks
- Hostas
- Hydrangeas
- Impatiens
- Iris
- Lantana
- Lilies
- Lobelia
- Love-in-a-mist
- Lupine
- Marigolds
- Morning Glories
- Nasturtiums
- Pansies
- Peonies
- Petunias
- Phlox
- Poppies
- Portulaca
- Primrose
- Red Hot Pokers
- Roses
- Rudbeckia
- Salvia
- Shasta Daisies
- Snapdragons
- Statice
- Stocks
- Strawflowers
- Sunflowers
- Sweet Peas
- Tulips
- Verbena
- Vinca
- Violets
- Wisteria
- Yarrow
- Zinnias
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
