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Zone 8 Planting Guide
Mild climate with 8+ month growing season. Coastal South, Texas, Arizona, Pacific coast. Minimum winter temperature 10°F to 20°F.
Typical Zone 8
32-week growing season
Days to first frost
205
TodayFirst frost
Plan your Zone 8 garden
Zone 8 growing tips
- •Heat is your main challenge, not cold. Afternoon shade cloth helps summer tomatoes and peppers.
- •Plant cool-season crops (lettuce, peas, broccoli) in fall for winter harvest. A Zone 8 advantage.
- •Okra, sweet potatoes, and southern peas thrive in Zone 8 summer heat.
- •Irrigation management is key: deep watering 2-3 times per week beats daily shallow watering.
Every vegetable plantable in Zone 8
Leafy Greens
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lettuce | 30–60 | 6" | Succession plant every 2 weeks |
| Spinach | 37–45 | 4" | Prefers cool weather, bolts in heat |
| Swiss Chard | 50–60 | 12" | Cut-and-come-again harvest |
| Arugula | 21–40 | 4" | Fast grower, succession plant |
Brassicas
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kale | 55–75 | 18" | Frost improves flavor |
| Broccoli | 60–90 | 18" | Harvest side shoots after main head |
| Cabbage | 70–100 | 18" | Start indoors for spring crop |
| Cauliflower | 55–80 | 18" | Blanch heads by tying leaves |
| Brussels Sprouts | 90–120 | 24" | Frost sweetens the sprouts |
Fruiting
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 60–85 | 24" | Stake or cage for support |
| Pepper | 60–90 | 18" | Needs warm soil (65°F+) |
| Cucumber | 50–70 | 12" | Trellis for space saving |
| Zucchini | 45–60 | 36" | Very productive, harvest young |
| Squash (Winter) | 80–110 | 36" | Needs lots of space |
| Eggplant | 65–80 | 24" | Needs warm soil (70°F+) |
| Watermelon | 70–90 | 60" | Needs long warm season |
| Pumpkin | 90–120 | 60" | Count back from desired harvest |
| Sweet Corn | 60–90 | 12" | Plant in blocks for pollination |
Root Vegetables
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrot | 60–80 | 2" | Thin seedlings to 2 inches apart |
| Beet | 50–65 | 4" | Soak seeds 24hr before planting |
| Radish | 22–30 | 2" | Fastest vegetable to harvest |
| Potato | 70–120 | 12" | Hill soil as plants grow |
| Sweet Potato | 90–120 | 12" | Plant slips, not seeds |
| Turnip | 40–60 | 4" | Great fall crop |
| Parsnip | 100–130 | 4" | Slow to germinate, be patient |
Legumes
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bean (Bush) | 50–60 | 4" | Don't soak seeds before planting |
| Green Bean (Pole) | 60–70 | 6" | Provide trellis or poles |
| Pea | 55–70 | 3" | Likes cool weather, inoculate seeds |
Alliums
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onion | 90–120 | 4" | Match day-length variety to latitude |
| Garlic | 90–150 | 6" | Spring-planted: 90-150 days. Fall planting preferred for larger bulbs. |
| Leek | 100–130 | 6" | Blanch stems by hilling soil |
Herbs
| Vegetable | Days to Harvest | Spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | 50–75 | 12" | Pinch flowers to extend harvest |
| Cilantro | 45–70 | 4" | Bolts in heat, succession plant |
| Dill | 40–60 | 6" | Self-seeds freely |
| Parsley | 70–90 | 8" | Slow to germinate (2-3 weeks) |
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