Planting guide

What to plant in Zone 8 in February

USDA Zone 8 · US Northern Hemisphere February

February is when the zone 8 vegetable garden really starts. Across the South, from Dallas to Atlanta and the Carolinas, average last frosts fall in March, so this is the month for hardy crops outdoors and warm-season crops started indoors. Zone 8 also covers the Pacific Northwest, where springs are cooler and wetter; the notes below say where that changes things.

Plant now

Seed potatoesSolanum tuberosum

A Southern tradition is to plant around Valentine's Day. Cut large seed potatoes to two or three eyes per piece and let them dry a day before planting.

PeasPisum sativum

Direct-sow now; they germinate in soil as cool as 40°F (4°C) and finish before the heat.

Onion transplantsAllium cepa

Short-day or intermediate-day varieties suit the South. Plant now so they bulb as the days lengthen.

Spinach, lettuce, kale, collards

Sow or transplant now for harvests through April.

Broccoli and cabbage transplants

Set out in mid to late February so they head up before summer.

Tomatoes and peppers (seed, indoors)

Sow indoors early in the month so seedlings are 6-8 weeks old at your last frost date.

Timing notes

  • USDA zones measure the coldest winter night, not frost dates. Look up the average last frost for your own town and count back from it.
  • In the Pacific Northwest (Seattle, Portland), peas and fava beans go in from late February, but the soil stays cold much longer: potatoes wait until March or April, and tomatoes until May.
  • Do not work wet soil. If a handful squeezed into a ball stays in a lump instead of crumbling, wait a few dry days.
Frost dates and a seed-starting schedule for your ZIP code Free calculator from NOAA station records: last spring frost, first fall frost, and what to start each week. ← All planting guides