SproutSmart
SproutSmart™ Intelligent Garden Sowing

Zone 8a Planting Schedule

All Zones Zone 8a Save Garden
Last spring frost: Apr 1st
First fall frost: Nov 5th
Growing season: 218 days

Action Plan: May in Zone 8a

Expert Note

In May (Zone 8a), keep soil evenly moist and mulch to hold moisture and suppress weeds. Watch for early aphids and flea beetles on tender growth; use insecticidal soap if needed. Harden off transplants before full sun, and protect from occasional late cool snaps.

Seed & Soil

Transplant warm-season starters like Tomato and Bell Pepper once nights stay reliably mild, and set up support early. Direct sow heat-lovers like Zucchini and Cucumber while soil is warm, and tuck in Basil for fast, fragrant growth.

The Harvest

Start harvesting tender greens and early crops as they mature: pick Spinach and Lettuce regularly for best texture. Harvest Radish promptly when sized, and keep Green Beans picked to encourage more pods.

Planting Schedule

Add crops from the list below to build your planting schedule.
Crop Indoor Start Transplant / Direct Sow Harvest Window 🌿
Alvaro Apr 29th May 13th Jul 27th – Nov 5th
Amethyst Improved Feb 11th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Annie Oakley II Direct Sow May 13th Jul 2nd – Nov 5th
Apple Mar 4th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Aunt Hettie’s Direct Sow May 13th Jul 7th – Nov 5th
Blue Spike Feb 18th May 13th Aug 11th – Nov 5th
Boxwood Feb 18th May 13th Jun 27th – Nov 5th
Burmese Direct Sow May 13th Jul 7th – Nov 5th
Candy Roaster May 13th May 27th Sep 9th – Nov 5th
Cinnamon Feb 18th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Colorado Red Star Feb 4th May 13th Sep 10th – Nov 5th
Common Mar 18th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Creeping Thyme Feb 18th May 13th May 12th – Nov 5th
Dinner Bells Feb 18th May 13th Jul 22nd – Nov 5th
Dwarf Long Pod Green Direct Sow May 13th Jul 7th – Nov 5th
Genovese Compact Improved Feb 18th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Glacier Feb 4th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Greek Basil Feb 18th May 13th Jul 2nd – Nov 5th
Greek Columnar Feb 18th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Green Sleeves Jan 7th May 13th Aug 11th – Nov 5th
Green Striped Cushaw Apr 29th May 13th Aug 16th – Nov 5th
Hale's Best Jumbo Apr 29th May 13th Aug 1st – Nov 5th
Heavy Hitter Direct Sow May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Hernandez Direct Sow May 13th Aug 16th – Nov 5th
Holy Red Feb 18th May 13th Jul 22nd – Nov 5th
Honey Bee Blue Feb 18th May 13th Jul 22nd – Nov 5th
Howden May 13th May 27th Sep 9th – Nov 5th
Italian Flat Leaf Mar 18th May 13th Jul 22nd – Nov 5th
Italian Large Leaf Feb 18th May 13th Jul 2nd – Nov 5th
Jarrahdale May 13th May 27th Sep 9th – Nov 5th
Juliet Feb 11th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Lemon Thyme Feb 4th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Lettuce Leaf Basil Mar 18th May 13th Jul 2nd – Nov 5th
Lime Basil Feb 18th May 13th Jun 17th – Nov 5th
Marseillais Feb 18th May 13th Jun 27th – Nov 5th
Maya Feb 4th May 13th Jul 27th – Nov 5th
New Zealand Spinach Direct Sow May 13th Jun 22nd – Nov 5th
Nufar Feb 18th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Piccolino Feb 18th May 13th Jun 27th – Nov 5th
Pink Celery Feb 4th May 13th Aug 1st – Nov 5th
Pistou Mar 18th May 13th Jul 2nd – Nov 5th
Polyvit Mar 18th May 13th Jun 27th – Nov 5th
Porto Rico Direct Sow May 13th Aug 16th – Nov 5th
Prospera Mar 18th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Purpurascens Feb 18th May 13th Jul 27th – Nov 5th
Red Wethersfield Feb 4th May 13th Sep 10th – Nov 5th
Regal F1 Apr 29th May 13th Jul 7th – Nov 5th
Rutgers Devotion Mar 4th May 13th Jul 2nd – Nov 5th
Siberian Feb 11th May 13th Jul 17th – Nov 5th
Spark May 13th May 27th Aug 30th – Nov 5th
Spearmint Mar 11th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Stupice Feb 11th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Sugar Cube Apr 29th May 13th Jul 27th – Nov 5th
Sultana Mar 18th May 13th Jun 27th – Nov 5th
Sunburst Apr 29th May 13th Jun 27th – Nov 5th
Sweet Herb Feb 18th May 13th Aug 11th – Nov 5th
Thai Basil Feb 18th May 13th Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Thai Sweet Feb 25th May 13th Jul 2nd – Nov 5th
Tigger Melon May 13th May 27th Aug 15th – Nov 5th
Tromboncino Direct Sow May 13th Jul 2nd – Nov 5th
Tuscan Blue Feb 4th May 13th May 13th – Nov 5th
Wee-B-Little May 13th May 27th Aug 30th – Nov 5th
Zarah Direct Sow May 13th Jul 7th – Nov 5th
African Blue Feb 18th May 20th Aug 3rd – Nov 5th
Aji Amarillo Feb 11th May 20th Aug 8th – Nov 5th
Aramato Mar 4th May 20th Jul 4th – Nov 5th
Berggarten Feb 18th May 20th Aug 3rd – Nov 5th
Black Cherry Feb 11th May 20th Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Blue Spice Feb 25th May 20th Jul 4th – Nov 5th
Box Car Willie Feb 11th May 20th Aug 18th – Nov 5th
Carbon Feb 11th May 20th Aug 13th – Nov 5th
Cardinal Mar 11th May 20th Jul 4th – Nov 5th
Cascabella Feb 11th May 20th Aug 3rd – Nov 5th
Cinnamon Basil Feb 18th May 20th Aug 3rd – Nov 5th
Clove Basil Feb 18th May 20th Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Dolce Vita Feb 18th May 20th Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Dr. Wyche’s Yellow Feb 11th May 20th Aug 18th – Nov 5th
Early Girl Feb 11th May 20th Jul 17th – Nov 5th
Early Pick Feb 11th May 20th Jul 21st – Nov 5th
Emily Mar 4th May 20th Jul 14th – Nov 5th
Everleaf Emerald Towers Feb 18th May 20th Aug 3rd – Nov 5th
Fourth of July Feb 11th May 20th Jul 24th – Nov 5th
Gecofure Mar 4th May 20th Jul 4th – Nov 5th
Jetsetter Feb 11th May 20th Aug 8th – Nov 5th
Kintsai Feb 18th May 20th Jul 4th – Nov 5th
Malagueta Feb 11th May 20th Aug 18th – Nov 5th
Mammoth Mar 4th May 20th Jul 14th – Nov 5th
Orange Thyme Feb 25th May 20th Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Osmin Purple Feb 18th May 20th Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Patio Feb 11th May 20th Aug 3rd – Nov 5th
Pesto Perpetuo Feb 18th May 20th Jun 29th – Nov 5th
Serata Mar 11th May 20th Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Silvery Fir Tree Feb 11th May 20th Aug 13th – Nov 5th
Spicy Globe Mar 11th May 20th Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Summer Mar 11th May 20th Jul 9th – Nov 5th
Tiny Tim Feb 11th May 20th Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Wenk's Yellow Hots Feb 11th May 20th Aug 3rd – Nov 5th
Wild Magic Mar 4th May 20th Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Window Box Feb 18th May 20th Jul 9th – Nov 5th
Abe Lincoln Feb 11th May 27th Aug 25th – Nov 5th