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

Planting zone for 30603 — Athens, GA

ZIP code 30603 (Athens, Clarke County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 23 and the first fall frost November 10.

Where ZIP 30603 is

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 23
First frostNov 10
2012 zone8a

Was 8a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Athens, 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 Athens, GA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 28
Growing season232 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 9 and returns around November 25.

From the NOAA station Athens Ben Epps Airport, GA — 3 miles away, elevation 784 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 30603

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 30603 came on Feb 15 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 10).

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 Athens, GA.

Soil in Athens, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 30603 is Cecil — 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 matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cecil sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, moderately eroded.

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 30603; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Athens, GA

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days62days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights46nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,403base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 25 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation49 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 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JanFebruary: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 FebMarch: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 MarApril: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 NovDecember: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Athens Ben Epps Airport, GA (3 mi away); precipitation: Athens Ben Epps Airport, GA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

4 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

306028b
Athens, GA · 1 mi
306048a
Athens, GA · 1 mi
306088b
Athens, GA · 1 mi
306128b
Athens, GA · 1 mi
306098a
Athens, GA · 2 mi
306018b
Athens, GA · 3 mi
306068a
Athens, GA · 3 mi
306058a
Athens, GA · 5 mi

All 10 ZIP codes in Athens → · Georgia planting zones →

Questions about 30603

What planting zone is ZIP code 30603?

ZIP code 30603 (Athens, 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 Athens, GA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 30603 is March 23; after April 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Athens Ben Epps Airport station.

When is the first frost in Athens, GA?

The median first fall frost near 30603 is November 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 232 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 30603?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 26 – Feb 9 and set transplants outside around Mar 30 – Apr 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 30603 get?

About 49 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Athens Ben Epps Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Athens, GA?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 62 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 30603 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cecil at the center of ZIP 30603: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Athens, GA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 30603 came on Feb 15 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Athens, GA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 30603 is 14 h 25 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 30603 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 30603 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.