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

Planting zone for Valdosta, GA

Valdosta, GA is in USDA zone 9a across its 7 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 5 and the first fall frost November 27.

Valdosta on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
ZIP codes7
Last frostMar 5
First frostNov 27
Growing season267 days

9a 7 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Valdosta, 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 Valdosta, 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 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 27median — 10% chance by Nov 9
Growing season267 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Valdosta 2 S, GA, elevation 266 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 Valdosta

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 · Oct 2 – Oct 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 13 – Dec 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 5) and first fall frost (Nov 27) 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 31603 came on Jan 27 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26).

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 9a in Georgia

603 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Georgia, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 90

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 146

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 176

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 164

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 Valdosta, GA.

Soil in Valdosta, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 31603 is Clarendon — loamy sand, moderately well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Clarendon loamy sand.

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 31603; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Valdosta, GA

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low40 °Faverage low, January
Hot days82days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights21nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,573base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 09 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation48.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° FebMarch: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 72 °F 90°72° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° OctNovember: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 FebMarch: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 MayJune: 7.08 in precipitation 7.1 JunJuly: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 JulAugust: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 AugSeptember: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 2.47 in precipitation 2.5 NovDecember: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Valdosta 2 S, GA (2 mi away); precipitation: Valdosta Regional Airport, GA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Valdosta

316019a
20 to 25 °F
316029a
20 to 25 °F
316039a
20 to 25 °F
316049a
20 to 25 °F
316059a
20 to 25 °F
316069a
20 to 25 °F
316989a
20 to 25 °F

Georgia planting zones →

Questions about Valdosta

What planting zone is Valdosta, GA?

Valdosta, GA is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in Valdosta, GA?

The median last spring frost is March 5 and the median first fall frost is November 27 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Valdosta 2 S station).

When can I plant a garden in Valdosta, 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 Valdosta, GA?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 09 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Valdosta, GA get?

About 48.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).