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

Planting zone for 31905 — Fort Benning, GA

ZIP code 31905 (Fort Benning, Muscogee County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost November 8.

Where ZIP 31905 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 26
First frostNov 8
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 Fort Benning, 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 Fort Benning, GA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 8median — 10% chance by Oct 27
Growing season228 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 11 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Ft Benning Lawson Field, GA — 9 miles away, elevation 289 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 31905

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 13 – Sep 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 25 – Nov 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 8) 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 31905 came on Feb 10 — 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3).

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 Fort Benning, GA.

Soil in Fort Benning, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 31905 is Ailey — loamy coarse sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy coarse sanddrains 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 groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Ailey loamy coarse 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 31905; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Benning, GA

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days105days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights60nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,817base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation51.8 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 61 °F, low 32 °F 61°32° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 35 °F 65°35° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 42 °F 72°42° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 48 °F 79°48° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 57 °F 86°57° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 66 °F 91°66° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 70 °F 93°70° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 69 °F 93°69° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 64 °F 89°64° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 51 °F 80°51° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 39 °F 71°39° NovDecember: average high 63 °F, low 34 °F 63°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 JanFebruary: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 FebMarch: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 MarApril: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ft Benning Lawson Field, GA (9 mi away); precipitation: Columbus #2, GA (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

319038b
Columbus, GA · 7 mi
319148b
Columbus, GA · 8 mi
319178b
Columbus, GA · 8 mi
319978b
Columbus, GA · 8 mi
319988b
Columbus, GA · 8 mi
319078b
Columbus, GA · 8 mi
319068b
Columbus, GA · 9 mi
318058b
Cusseta, GA · 10 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Fort Benning → · Georgia planting zones →

Questions about 31905

What planting zone is ZIP code 31905?

ZIP code 31905 (Fort Benning, 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 Fort Benning, GA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 31905 is March 26; after April 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Benning Lawson Field station.

When is the first frost in Fort Benning, GA?

The median first fall frost near 31905 is November 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 228 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 31905?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 29 – Feb 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 2 – Apr 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 31905 get?

About 51.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbus #2 station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Benning, GA?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 105 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 31905 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ailey at the center of ZIP 31905: loamy coarse sand, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Fort Benning, GA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 31905 came on Feb 10 in 2026, 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Benning, GA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 31905 is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 31905 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 31905 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.