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

Planting zone for Forest Park, GA

Forest Park, GA is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 15 and the first fall frost November 20.

Forest Park on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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 codes2
Last frostMar 15
First frostNov 20
Growing season252 days

8b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Forest Park, GA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 20median — 10% chance by Nov 4
Growing season252 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 28 and returns around December 5.

From the NOAA station Atlanta Hartsfield Intl Airport, GA, elevation 1,011 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 Forest Park

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 25 – Oct 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 6 – Dec 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 15) and first fall frost (Nov 20) 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 30297 came on Feb 14 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11).

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 Forest Park, GA.

Soil in Forest Park, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 30297 is Cecil — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cecil-Urban land complex, 2 to 10 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 30297; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Forest Park, GA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights36nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,606base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation50.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 54 °F, low 36 °F 54°36° JanFebruary: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 69 °F 87°69° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 72 °F 90°72° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 66 °F 84°66° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 55 °F 74°55° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 38 °F 56°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.59 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.6❄1 JanFebruary: 4.55 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.5 FebMarch: 4.68 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.7 MarApril: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 NovDecember: 4.57 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Atlanta Hartsfield Intl Airport, GA (4 mi away); precipitation: Atlanta Hartsfield Intl Airport, GA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Forest Park

302978b
15 to 20 °F
302988b
15 to 20 °F

Georgia planting zones →

Questions about Forest Park

What planting zone is Forest Park, GA?

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

When is the last frost in Forest Park, GA?

The median last spring frost is March 15 and the median first fall frost is November 20 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Atlanta Hartsfield Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Forest Park, GA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 1 – Feb 22; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 22, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Forest Park, GA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 23 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Forest Park, GA get?

About 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).