USDA Zone 8
Hot summers and short mild winters. Two strong growing seasons, spring and fall.
Climate Overview
What to expect
- Short, mild winters with light frost
- Long, hot summers
- Last frost early-to-mid March; first frost late November
- Spring and fall are the prime windows; high summer can be brutal
What Grows Well
Seeds To Stock
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Okra
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Melons
- Beans
- Sweet potatoes
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Carrots
- Beets
- Peas
- Garlic
- Onions
- Sunflowers
Direct Sow Suggestions
- Beans
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Corn
- Okra
- Sunflowers
- Carrots
- Beets
- Lettuce (cool months)
Tray Start Suggestions
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplant
- Broccoli (fall)
- Cabbage (fall)
Monthly Planning
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USDA Zone 8
JuneThis month
Plant Now
- Beans (succession)
- Okra
- Cowpeas
- Cucumbers
- Watermelon
- Sunflowers
Start In Trays
- Fall broccoli and cabbage
Harvest
- Zucchini
- Beans
- Cucumbers
- Early tomatoes
- Garlic
Prepare Next
- Order garlic
- Plan fall garden
Common Challenges
Watch out for
- Intense summer heat stalling fruit set
- Humidity and disease in the Southeast
- Watering through dry summers in the West
- Timing fall brassicas in lingering heat
Near Anderson, Redding, or Red Bluff, California? Our local guides go a lot deeper than this zone overview.
What To Do Next
Turn zone knowledge into an actual planting plan.
Zone pages help with broad timing. The planner and growing tips list help you turn that timing into a season you can use.
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Local Guides
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