Zone 8 - Planting Calendar

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: January Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Direct sow cool-season crops like onions, spinach, and peas.
  • Herbs: Plant hardy herbs like parsley, thyme, and cilantro.
• Indoors:
  • Warm-season Vegetables: Start seeds for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants indoors.

• Prepare garden beds by adding compost and organic matter.
• Prune fruit trees and shrubs to promote healthy growth.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: February Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Continue sowing cool-season crops like lettuce, carrots, and radishes.
  • Edible Flowers: Plant pansies, violas, and calendula.
• Indoors:
  • Warm-season Vegetables: Start seeds for squash, cucumbers, and melons.

• Mulch garden beds to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Start hardening off seedlings to prepare them for transplanting outdoors.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: March Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Plant potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, and beets.
  • Herbs: Sow seeds for dill, cilantro, and chives directly in the garden.
  • Wildflowers: Direct sow sunflowers, zinnias, and cosmos.
• Indoors:
  • Microgreens: Continue growing microgreens indoors for quick harvests.

• Water newly planted seeds and seedlings regularly.
• Consider using row covers to protect early plantings from unexpected cold snaps.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: April Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Transplant warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.
  • Herbs: Plant basil, oregano, and rosemary outdoors.
  • Edible Flowers: Sow nasturtiums, marigolds, and borage to attract pollinators.
• Indoors:
  • Microgreens: Continue with indoor microgreen production.

• Fertilize garden beds to support rapid plant growth.
• Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: May Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Direct sow summer crops like corn, beans, and squash.
  • Herbs: Continue planting heat-tolerant herbs like basil and mint.
  • Wildflowers: Plant late-blooming wildflowers like cosmos and sunflowers.

• Water deeply and regularly, especially as temperatures rise.
• Install supports for vining plants like tomatoes and cucumbers.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: June Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Succession plant beans, squash, and cucumbers to extend the harvest season.
  • Herbs: Continue planting herbs like thyme, sage, and oregano.
  • Edible Flowers: Plant heat-tolerant flowers like marigolds and nasturtiums.

• Mulch heavily to conserve moisture and keep soil temperatures stable.
• Harvest early and often to encourage continued production.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: July Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Direct sow late-season crops like okra, sweet potatoes, and melons.
  • Herbs: Plant heat-tolerant herbs like basil and oregano.
  • Microgreens: Grow microgreens indoors to avoid the summer heat.

• Water deeply in the early morning to minimize evaporation.
• Shade sensitive plants during the hottest part of the day.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: August Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Begin planting fall crops like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale.
  • Herbs: Plant cool-season herbs like cilantro and parsley.
  • Wildflowers: Sow seeds for fall-blooming wildflowers like asters and goldenrods.

• Continue watering and mulching to protect plants from late-summer heat.
• Prepare garden beds for fall planting by adding compost and organic matter.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: September Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Plant leafy greens like spinach, lettuce, and Swiss chard.
  • Herbs: Sow hardy herbs like chives, sage, and garlic.
  • Edible Flowers: Plant pansies and violas for a splash of autumn color.

• Harvest late-season vegetables and store them for winter.
• Begin cleaning up garden beds and removing spent plants.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: October Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Plant garlic, onions, and shallots for overwintering.
  • Wildflowers: Sow wildflower seeds for early spring blooms.
  • Herbs: Transplant herbs like rosemary and thyme into containers for indoor growing.

• Mulch garden beds to protect plants from colder temperatures.
• Start covering tender plants to protect them from early frosts.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: November Planting Calendar

• Outdoors:
  • Vegetables: Continue planting garlic and onions if you haven’t already.
  • Herbs: Move tender herbs indoors to protect them from frost.
  • Microgreens: Start growing microgreens indoors for fresh greens throughout the winter.

• Protect tender plants with frost covers or move them indoors.
• Reflect on the past gardening season and plan for next year.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8: December Planting Calendar

• Indoors:
  • Microgreens: Continue growing microgreens indoors for fresh, nutritious greens.
  • Herbs: Grow herbs like parsley, mint, and chives indoors.

• Clean and store garden tools and equipment.
• Plan your garden for the next year, considering new varieties and layouts.