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

Planting zone for Rome, GA

Rome, GA is in USDA zone 8a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost November 3.

Rome 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostApr 1
First frostNov 3
Growing season217 days

8a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rome, 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 Rome, GA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 3median — 10% chance by Oct 22
Growing season217 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 18 and returns around November 14.

From the NOAA station Rome, GA, elevation 686 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 Rome

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 8 – Sep 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 20 – Nov 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 3) 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 30162 came on Feb 16 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 15).

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 8a in Georgia

572 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Georgia, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 88

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 138

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 169

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 152

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 Rome, GA.

Soil in Rome, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 30162 is Townley — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Townley silt loam, 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 30162; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rome, GA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days49days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights66nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,774base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation55.1 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 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 46 °F 74°46° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 55 °F 81°55° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 64 °F 87°64° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 68 °F 90°68° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.98 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.0 JanFebruary: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 FebMarch: 5.42 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 AprMay: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.30 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 5.3 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Rome

301618a
10 to 15 °F
301628a
10 to 15 °F
301648a
10 to 15 °F
301658a
10 to 15 °F

Georgia planting zones →

Questions about Rome

What planting zone is Rome, GA?

Rome, GA is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Rome, GA?

The median last spring frost is April 1 and the median first fall frost is November 3 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rome station).

When can I plant a garden in Rome, GA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 18 – Mar 11; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 8, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Rome, GA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 27 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Rome, GA get?

About 55.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).