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

Planting zone for 31549 — Lumber City, GA

ZIP code 31549 (Lumber City, Telfair County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 12 and the first fall frost November 17.

Where ZIP 31549 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 12
First frostNov 17
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 Lumber City, 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 Lumber City, GA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 17median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season251 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 24 and returns around December 4.

From the NOAA station Hazlehurst, GA — 9 miles away, elevation 249 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 31549

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
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 12) 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 31549 came on Feb 2 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 30).

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).

Soil in Lumber City, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 31549 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 31549; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lumber City, GA

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low38 °Faverage low, January
Hot days83days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights33nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,270base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation46.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 72 °F 92°72° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° NovDecember: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 JanFebruary: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 FebMarch: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 MarApril: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 OctNovember: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hazlehurst, GA (9 mi away); precipitation: Mcrae 6.6 Se, GA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

310558b
Mc Rae Helena, GA · 10 mi
310838b
Scotland, GA · 10 mi
315399a
Hazlehurst, GA · 11 mi
315329a
Denton, GA · 14 mi
304118b
Alamo, GA · 15 mi
315448b
Jacksonville, GA · 15 mi
304738b
Uvalda, GA · 16 mi
304129a
Alston, GA · 18 mi

Georgia planting zones →

Questions about 31549

What planting zone is ZIP code 31549?

ZIP code 31549 (Lumber City, 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 Lumber City, GA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 31549 is March 12; after March 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hazlehurst station.

When is the first frost in Lumber City, GA?

The median first fall frost near 31549 is November 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 251 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 31549?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 15 – Jan 29 and set transplants outside around Mar 19 – Apr 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 31549 get?

About 46.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mcrae 6.6 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Lumber City, GA?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 83 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 31549 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pelham at the center of ZIP 31549: loamy sand, poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Lumber City, GA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 31549 came on Feb 2 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lumber City, GA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 31549 is 14 h 14 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.