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

Planting zone for Riverdale, GA

Riverdale, GA is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost November 12.

Riverdale 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 25
First frostNov 12
Growing season235 days

8b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Riverdale, 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 Riverdale, GA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season235 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 8 and returns around November 28.

From the NOAA station Jonesboro, GA, elevation 932 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 Riverdale

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 25) and first fall frost (Nov 12) 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 30296 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 Riverdale, GA.

Soil in Riverdale, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 30296 is Pacolet — 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 matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Pacolet sandy loam, 6 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 30296; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Riverdale, 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
Precipitation53.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

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

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 JanFebruary: 5.18 in precipitation 5.2 FebMarch: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 MarApril: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 5.39 in precipitation 5.4 JunJuly: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.01 in precipitation 5.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Atlanta Hartsfield Intl Airport, GA (4 mi away); precipitation: Riverdale 3.0 Wsw, GA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Riverdale

302748b
15 to 20 °F
302968b
15 to 20 °F

Georgia planting zones →

Questions about Riverdale

What planting zone is Riverdale, GA?

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

When is the last frost in Riverdale, GA?

The median last spring frost is March 25 and the median first fall frost is November 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jonesboro station).

When can I plant a garden in Riverdale, GA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 11 – Mar 4; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 1, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Riverdale, 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 Riverdale, GA get?

About 53.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).