Zone 8b Planting Calendar

Every listed crop, timed for zone 8b. Not sure this is your zone?Look it up by ZIP code.

This zone has a distinct planting calendar — windows below are sourced from www.longfield-gardens.com rather than a single frost date.

Vegetables & Herbs

PlantSpacingWindowMethodStart indoorsDirect sow / transplantEst. harvest
Garlic4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Nov 5–Nov 12~240 days after direct-sowing
Superhot Pepper (Ghost, Reaper, Scorpion)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 7–Jan 14Apr 8–Apr 15~135 days after transplanting
Celery4 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 14–Jan 21Mar 11–Mar 18~120 days after transplanting
Leek9 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 14–Jan 21Mar 4–Mar 11~110 days after transplanting
Rosemary1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 14–Jan 21Apr 8–Apr 15~90 days after transplanting
Pepper1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 8–Apr 15~75 days after transplanting
Onion9 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Mar 4–Mar 11~100 days after transplanting
Eggplant1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 8–Apr 15~75 days after transplanting
Sweet Potato~4 sq ft each—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 15–Apr 22~110 days after transplanting
Thyme4 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 1–Apr 8~90 days after transplanting
Oregano4 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 1–Apr 8~80 days after transplanting
Chives9 per sq ft—EitherJan 28–Feb 4Mar 11–Mar 18~60 days after planting
Parsley4 per sq ft—EitherJan 28–Feb 4Mar 11–Mar 18~75 days after planting
Sage1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 8–Apr 15~75 days after transplanting
Collard Greens1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Mar 4–Mar 11~70 days after planting
Tomato1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Apr 8–Apr 15~70 days after transplanting
Kale1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 11–Feb 18Mar 4–Mar 11~60 days after planting
Pea8 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 11–Feb 18~60 days after direct-sowing
Broccoli1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Mar 11–Mar 18~65 days after transplanting
Cabbage1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Mar 11–Mar 18~70 days after transplanting
Basil4 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Apr 8–Apr 15~60 days after transplanting
Cauliflower1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Mar 11–Mar 18~70 days after transplanting
Brussels Sprouts1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 11–Feb 18Mar 11–Mar 18~95 days after transplanting
Arugula9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 18–Feb 25~40 days after direct-sowing
Bok Choy1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 18–Feb 25Mar 25–Apr 1~50 days after planting
Kohlrabi4 per sq ft—EitherFeb 18–Feb 25Mar 11–Mar 18~55 days after planting
Fennel (Florence/bulbing)1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 18–Feb 25Apr 8–Apr 15~90 days after planting
Lettuce4 per sq ft—EitherFeb 25–Mar 4Mar 11–Mar 18~45 days after planting
Spinach9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 25–Mar 4~40 days after direct-sowing
Swiss Chard4 per sq ft—EitherFeb 25–Mar 4Mar 11–Mar 18~55 days after planting
Radish16 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 25–Mar 4~25 days after direct-sowing
Okra1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 25–Mar 4Apr 8–Apr 15~58 days after planting
Cucumber2 per sq ft—EitherMar 4–Mar 11Apr 1–Apr 8~55 days after planting
Zucchini1 per sq ft—EitherMar 4–Mar 11Apr 1–Apr 8~50 days after planting
Carrot16 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 4–Mar 11~70 days after direct-sowing
Beet9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 4–Mar 11~55 days after direct-sowing
Cantaloupe~4 sq ft each—EitherMar 4–Mar 11Apr 8–Apr 15~80 days after planting
Turnip9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 4–Mar 11~50 days after direct-sowing
Mustard Greens4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 4–Mar 11~40 days after direct-sowing
Cilantro9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~50 days after direct-sowing
Potato1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~90 days after direct-sowing
Scallion (Green Onion)9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~60 days after direct-sowing
Dill4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 18–Mar 25~55 days after direct-sowing
Winter Squash~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~100 days after direct-sowing
Pumpkin~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~110 days after direct-sowing
Bush Beans9 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~55 days after direct-sowing
Sweet Corn1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~75 days after direct-sowing
Watermelon~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 8–Apr 15~85 days after direct-sowing

Flowers

PlantSpacingWindowMethodStart indoorsDirect sow / transplantEst. bloom
Tulip7 per sq ft—Start indoorsAugNov~180 days after transplanting
Daffodil (Narcissus)5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Crocus12 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Hyacinth5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~150 days after direct-sowing
Ornamental Allium5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~195 days after direct-sowing
Dutch Iris4 per sq ft—Direct sow—Sep–Nov~210 days after direct-sowing
Ranunculus5 per sq ft—Direct sow—Oct–Dec~105 days after direct-sowing
Pansy / Viola2 per sq ft—Start indoorsDec 31–Jan 7 '27Mar 11–Mar 18~65 days after transplanting
Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 14–Jan 21Apr 8–Apr 15~80 days after transplanting
Petunia1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 21–Jan 28Apr 8–Apr 15~70 days after transplanting
Snapdragon2 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 21–Jan 28Mar 18–Mar 25~90 days after transplanting
Purple Coneflower~4 sq ft each—EitherJan 21–Jan 28Apr 8–Apr 15~365 days after planting
Salvia (Scarlet Sage)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsJan 28–Feb 4Apr 8–Apr 15~80 days after transplanting
Calendula1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Mar 11–Mar 18~50 days after planting
Black-Eyed Susan1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Mar 4–Mar 11~70 days after planting
Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)3 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Mar 11–Mar 18~75 days after planting
Sweet Alyssum3 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Mar 25–Apr 1~40 days after planting
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 1–Apr 8~80 days after planting
Portulaca (Moss Rose)1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 1–Apr 8~60 days after planting
Celosia2 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 1–Apr 8~80 days after planting
Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)1 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 1–Apr 8~90 days after transplanting
Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)2 per sq ft—Start indoorsFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 8–Apr 15~98 days after transplanting
Cleome (Spider Flower)1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 8–Apr 15~75 days after planting
Marigold4 per sq ft—EitherFeb 11–Feb 18Apr 1–Apr 8~50 days after planting
Sweet Pea2 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 11–Feb 18~85 days after direct-sowing
Cosmos1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 18–Feb 25Apr 1–Apr 8~70 days after planting
Moonflower2 per sq ft—EitherFeb 18–Feb 25Mar 25–Apr 1~90 days after planting
Zinnia1 per sq ft—EitherFeb 25–Mar 4Apr 1–Apr 8~65 days after planting
Larkspur1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Feb 25–Mar 4~95 days after direct-sowing
Hollyhock~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~180 days after direct-sowing
California Poppy2 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~80 days after direct-sowing
Lupine~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~80 days after direct-sowing
Gladiolus2 per sq ft—Direct sow—Mar 11–Mar 18~90 days after direct-sowing
Sunflower~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—Mar 25–Apr 1~80 days after direct-sowing
Nasturtium1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~55 days after direct-sowing
Four O'Clock~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~70 days after direct-sowing
Verbena~2 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~80 days after direct-sowing
Desert Marigold1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 1–Apr 8~75 days after direct-sowing
Morning Glory~4 sq ft each—Direct sow—Apr 8–Apr 15~75 days after direct-sowing
Dahlia1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 8–Apr 15~90 days after direct-sowing
Lantana~4 sq ft each—Buy as a start—Apr 8–Apr 15~90 days after transplanting
Hyacinth Bean Vine1 per sq ft—Direct sow—Apr 15–Apr 22~90 days after direct-sowing