Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 31037 — Mc Rae Helena, GA

ZIP code 31037 (Mc Rae Helena, Telfair County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 5 and the first fall frost November 24.

Where ZIP 31037 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 5

First frostNov 24

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 Mc Rae Helena, 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 Mc Rae Helena, 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 26only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostNovember 24median — 10% chance by Nov 6

Growing season263 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 16 and returns around December 9.

From the NOAA station Eastman 1 W, GA — 17 miles away, elevation 400 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 31037

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 · Sep 29 – Oct 13

GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 10 – Dec 15

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 5) and first fall frost (Nov 24) 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 31037 came on Feb 2 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 31).

average
Jan 312026
Feb 2

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.

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 Mc Rae Helena, GA.

Soil in Mc Rae Helena, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 31037 is Pelham — loamy sand, poorly drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding

pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds

Organic matter1.5%low — add compost

Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pelham loamy sand, 0 to 1 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 31037; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mc Rae Helena, GA

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July

Winter low38 °Faverage low, January

Hot days76days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights31nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days6,140base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 15 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day10 h 03 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb

Precipitation48.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Eastman 1 W, GA (17 mi away); precipitation: Chauncey 2.6 Sw, GA (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

Mc Rae Helena, GA · 10 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Mc Rae Helena → · Georgia planting zones →

Questions about 31037

What planting zone is ZIP code 31037?

ZIP code 31037 (Mc Rae Helena, 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 Mc Rae Helena, GA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 31037 is March 5; after March 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eastman 1 W station.

When is the first frost in Mc Rae Helena, GA?

The median first fall frost near 31037 is November 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 263 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 31037?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 8 – Jan 22 and set transplants outside around Mar 12 – Mar 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 31037 get?

About 48.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chauncey 2.6 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Mc Rae Helena, GA?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 76 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 31037 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pelham at the center of ZIP 31037: loamy sand, poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Mc Rae Helena, GA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 31037 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 Mc Rae Helena, GA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 31037 is 14 h 15 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.