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

Planting zone for 30450 — Portal, GA

ZIP code 30450 (Portal, Bulloch County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 14 and the first fall frost November 15.

Where ZIP 30450 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 14
First frostNov 15
2012 zone8b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Portal, 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 Portal, GA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 15median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season248 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 26 and returns around November 29.

From the NOAA station Rocky Ford 4se, GA — 11 miles away, elevation 161 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 30450

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 20 – Oct 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 1 – Dec 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 14) and first fall frost (Nov 15) 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 30450 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 Portal, GA.

Soil in Portal, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 30450 is Cowarts — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cowarts loamy sand, 2 to 5 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 30450; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Portal, GA

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days74days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights44nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,789base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 00 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 58 °F, low 36 °F 58°36° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 60 °F 84°60° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 71 °F 92°71° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 JanFebruary: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 FebMarch: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 AprMay: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 5.66 in precipitation 5.7 JunJuly: 5.91 in precipitation 5.9 JulAugust: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 NovDecember: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rocky Ford 4se, GA (11 mi away); precipitation: Rocky Ford 4se, GA (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

304518b
Pulaski, GA · 11 mi
304598b
Statesboro, GA · 12 mi
304558b
Rocky Ford, GA · 12 mi
304608b
Statesboro, GA · 12 mi
304588b
Statesboro, GA · 12 mi
304248b
Dover, GA · 12 mi
304618b
Statesboro, GA · 13 mi
304398b
Metter, GA · 13 mi

Georgia planting zones →

Questions about 30450

What planting zone is ZIP code 30450?

ZIP code 30450 (Portal, GA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Portal, GA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 30450 is March 14; after April 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rocky Ford 4se station.

When is the first frost in Portal, GA?

The median first fall frost near 30450 is November 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 248 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 30450?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 17 – Jan 31 and set transplants outside around Mar 21 – Apr 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 30450 get?

About 48.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rocky Ford 4se station).

How hot do summers get in Portal, GA?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 74 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 30450 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cowarts at the center of ZIP 30450: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Portal, GA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 30450 came on Feb 2 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Portal, GA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 30450 is 14 h 18 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.