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

Planting zone for Mc Rae Helena, GA

Mc Rae Helena, GA is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 5 and the first fall frost November 24.

Mc Rae Helena on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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 5
First frostNov 24
Growing season263 days

8b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mc Rae Helena, 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 Mc Rae Helena, GA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 24median — 10% chance by Nov 6
Growing season263 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 16 and returns around December 9.

From the NOAA station Eastman 1 W, GA, elevation 400 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 Mc Rae Helena

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 22 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 25 – Jan 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 25 – Jan 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 29 – Oct 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 10 – Dec 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 5) and first fall frost (Nov 24) 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 31037 came on Feb 2 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 31).

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 Mc Rae Helena, GA.

Soil in Mc Rae Helena, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 31037 is Pelham — loamy sand, poorly drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pelham loamy sand, 0 to 1 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 31037; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mc Rae Helena, GA

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low38 °Faverage low, January
Hot days76days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights31nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,140base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation48.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 72 °F 91°72° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° NovDecember: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 JanFebruary: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 FebMarch: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 2.47 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Eastman 1 W, GA (17 mi away); precipitation: Chauncey 2.6 Sw, GA (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Mc Rae Helena

310378b
15 to 20 °F
310558b
15 to 20 °F

Georgia planting zones →

Questions about Mc Rae Helena

What planting zone is Mc Rae Helena, GA?

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

When is the last frost in Mc Rae Helena, GA?

The median last spring frost is March 5 and the median first fall frost is November 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eastman 1 W station).

When can I plant a garden in Mc Rae Helena, GA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 22 – Feb 12; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 12, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Mc Rae Helena, GA?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 15 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Mc Rae Helena, GA get?

About 48.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).