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

Planting zone for Waycross, GA

Waycross, GA is in USDA zone 9a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 15 and the first fall frost November 17.

Waycross 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMar 15
First frostNov 17
Growing season246 days

9a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Waycross, 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 Waycross, 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 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 17median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season246 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 1 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Waycross 4 Ne, GA, elevation 144 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 Waycross

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 22 – Oct 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 3 – Dec 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 15) and first fall frost (Nov 17) 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 31502 came on Jan 27 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 27).

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 Waycross, GA.

Soil in Waycross, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 31502 is Leefield — loamy sand, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.7strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Leefield loamy sand, 0 to 3 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 31502; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waycross, GA

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days103days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights41nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,610base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation50.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° JanFebruary: average high 68 °F, low 40 °F 68°40° FebMarch: average high 75 °F, low 45 °F 75°45° MarApril: average high 81 °F, low 52 °F 81°52° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 60 °F 88°60° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 69 °F 92°69° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 71 °F 94°71° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 71 °F 93°71° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 55 °F 81°55° OctNovember: average high 74 °F, low 45 °F 74°45° NovDecember: average high 67 °F, low 39 °F 67°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 JanFebruary: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 FebMarch: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 6.80 in precipitation 6.8 JunJuly: 5.93 in precipitation 5.9 JulAugust: 6.84 in precipitation 6.8 AugSeptember: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 2.22 in precipitation 2.2 NovDecember: 2.89 in precipitation 2.9 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Waycross

315019a
20 to 25 °F
315029a
20 to 25 °F
315039a
20 to 25 °F

Georgia planting zones →

Questions about Waycross

What planting zone is Waycross, GA?

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

When is the last frost in Waycross, GA?

The median last spring frost is March 15 and the median first fall frost is November 17 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waycross 4 Ne station).

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

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 11 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Waycross, GA get?

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