Zone 8b Planting Calendar 2026Complete Seed Starting Schedule
Zone 8b offers a 300+ day growing season with mild winters. Summer heat is the main limiting factor, and many gardeners take a brief midsummer pause before replanting a full fall garden in late summer. Includes Tampa, San Diego, and Seattle.
Last Frost
February 10
First Fall Frost
December 10
Growing Season
303 days
2026 Monthly Planting Schedule
Your month-by-month guide for Zone 8b
1January
🌱 Indoors: Start early crops indoors
☀️ Notes: Plan garden, order seeds
2February
🌱 Indoors: Start main season crops
🌍 Direct: Cold hardy crops direct sow
☀️ Notes: Prepare soil when workable
3March
🌱 Indoors: Continue seed starting
🌍 Direct: Direct sow cool season
☀️ Notes: Prepare beds
4April
🌱 Indoors: Finish warm season indoors
🌍 Direct: Direct sow beans, corn
☀️ Notes: Main transplant month
5May
🌍 Direct: Succession plant
☀️ Notes: Plant out all seedlings
6June
🌱 Indoors: Start fall crops
🌍 Direct: Plant fall vegetables
☀️ Notes: Maintain and water
7July
🌱 Indoors: Fall transplant seedlings
🌍 Direct: Plant fall crops
☀️ Notes: Begin fall planning
8August
🌍 Direct: Plant fall greens
☀️ Notes: Fall garden planting
9September
🌍 Direct: Plant garlic
☀️ Notes: Fall planting continues
10October
🌱 Indoors: Order seeds
☀️ Notes: Clean up, prepare winter
Recommended Varieties for Zone 8b
Top-performing varieties adapted to your zone
tomato
pepper
lettuce
cucumber
squash
Best Crops for Zone 8b
Top performers in your zone's climate
💡 Zone Tip: Mulch heavily in summer to retain soil moisture and keep root zones 10–15°F cooler during peak heat. Plant by February 15 for spring.
Major Cities in Zone 8b
These areas share your hardiness zone
Zone 8b on the Map
Cities in your zone are highlighted. Click any marker to explore neighboring zone calendars.
Calculate Your 2026 Schedule
📖 Deep Dive Guide
Read: Complete Planting Guide for Zone 8 →Looking for a different zone?
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