Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 31808 (Columbus, GA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Mulberry Grove, GA (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)243 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tuskegee (45 mi), Morris Farms (55 mi), Wedowee (57 mi).
4-inch depth
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tuskegee (45 mi), Morris Farms (55 mi), Wedowee (57 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 31808 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 69°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 6 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 18: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 13 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 5 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 5 | Nov 5 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 21 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 3 | Dec 1 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 31808
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 21) and first fall frost (Nov 18). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 10–24 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 10–24 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 28–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–28 (transplant) Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 14–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 21–28 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 21–28 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Mar 28–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 7–21 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Georgia has a university or garden plant program: Georgia Gold Medal Plants (ended 2017). Plant frost-tender annuals after March 21 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Mulberry Grove, GA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00096148), elevation 501 ft, 4.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus #2, GA | 9 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
| Columbus Metro AP, GA | 9 mi | Mar 5 | Nov 23 |
| Ft Benning Lawson Fld, GA | 19 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 31808
When is the last frost in 31808?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 31808 is March 21. For a more cautious planting date, use April 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 31808?
The average first fall freeze is November 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 1.
What hardiness zone is 31808?
ZIP 31808 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 31808 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
31904 Columbus 36877 Smiths Station 31909 Columbus 31804 Cataula 31811 Hamilton 36867 Phenix City 31820 Columbus 31901 Columbus
Other ZIP codes in Harris County
31804 31807 31811 31822 31823 31826 31831 31833 All Harris County frost dates · Georgia frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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