Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Columbus, GA

Columbus, GA is in USDA zone 8b across its 14 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost November 11.

Columbus on the zone map

Outlined: its 6 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes14
Last frostMar 21
First frostNov 11
Growing season238 days

8b 14 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Columbus, GA…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Columbus, GA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 11median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season238 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 6 and returns around November 24.

From the NOAA station Columbus #2, GA, elevation 436 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Columbus

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 16 – Sep 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 28 – Dec 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 21) and first fall frost (Nov 11) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 31907 came on Feb 10 — 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8b in Georgia

590 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Georgia, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 89

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °FAtlantic white cedar50 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Shrubs 143

Allegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 174

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 159

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbig cordgrass8 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −3 °F

Vines 13

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Columbus, GA.

Soil in Columbus, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 31907 is Troup — loamy fine sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Troup loamy fine sand, 5 to 8 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 31907; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Columbus, GA

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days80days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights46nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,599base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation51.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 49 °F 77°49° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 JanFebruary: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 FebMarch: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 MarApril: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Columbus #2, GA (3 mi away); precipitation: Columbus #2, GA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Columbus

319018b
15 to 20 °F
319028b
15 to 20 °F
319038b
15 to 20 °F
319048b
15 to 20 °F
319068b
15 to 20 °F
319078b
15 to 20 °F
319088b
15 to 20 °F
319098b
15 to 20 °F
319148b
15 to 20 °F
319178b
15 to 20 °F
319938b
15 to 20 °F
319978b
15 to 20 °F
319988b
15 to 20 °F
319998b
15 to 20 °F

Georgia planting zones →

Questions about Columbus

What planting zone is Columbus, GA?

Columbus, GA is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Columbus, GA?

The median last spring frost is March 21 and the median first fall frost is November 11 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbus #2 station).

When can I plant a garden in Columbus, GA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 7 – Feb 28; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 28, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Columbus, GA?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Columbus, GA get?

About 51.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).