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SproutGuide

What to plant this week in Zone 8b

Week of 2026-W31

With frost dates ranging from March 1 to December 1, Zone 8b is in full summer swing; this week focus on harvesting your abundant beans, melons, and squash while sowing heat-loving crops like okra and cucumbers.

The next 7 days

Sample: Columbia, SC
Today
7/28
97° 71° 💧43%
Wed
7/29
94° 75° 💧59%
Thu
7/30
92° 68°
Fri
7/31
96° 77°
Sat
8/1
98° 75° 💧20%
Sun
8/2
95° 75° 💧65%
Mon
8/3
93° 76° 💧53%
Avg high 95°F Rain total 0.2" Humidity 60% Wind 6.7 mph 🔥 Heat wave 3 days
In the ground

Sow this week

30 crops
  • Basil
  • Borage
  • Bush Bean
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cleome (Spider Flower)
  • Cosmos
  • Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
  • Cucumber
  • Edamame
  • Fennel
  • French Marigold
  • Garden Verbena
  • Honeydew Melon
  • Lima Bean
  • Malabar Spinach
  • Nasturtium
  • Okra
  • Pole Bean
  • Scarlet Runner Bean
  • Shiso (Japanese Basil)
  • Summer Savory
  • Sunflower
  • Sweet Corn
  • Thai Basil
  • Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
  • Watermelon
  • Winter Squash
  • Yellow Summer Squash
  • Zinnia
  • Zucchini
Move out

Transplant this week

Nothing is due to go out this week.

Coming ripe

Harvest soon

39 crops
  • Basil
  • Borage
  • Bush Bean
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cleome (Spider Flower)
  • Cosmos
  • Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
  • Cucumber
  • Edamame
  • Fennel
  • Flour Corn
  • French Marigold
  • Garden Verbena
  • Garlic
  • Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
  • Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
  • Honeydew Melon
  • Lima Bean
  • Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
  • Loofah (Luffa)
  • Malabar Spinach
  • Nasturtium
  • Okra
  • Pole Bean
  • Pumpkin
  • Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
  • Scarlet Runner Bean
  • Shiso (Japanese Basil)
  • Summer Savory
  • Sunflower
  • Sweet Corn
  • Sweet Potato
  • Thai Basil
  • Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
  • Watermelon
  • Winter Squash
  • Yellow Summer Squash
  • Zinnia
  • Zucchini
Do this now

Seasonal tips

  • Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for continuous harvests.
  • Mulch around young summer squash and watermelons to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise.
  • Pinch back the tips of zinnias and cosmos to encourage bushier growth and more blooms.
Keep watch

Pest & disease watch

  • Watch for aphids clustering on new basil and marigold leaves.
  • Check cucumber vines and bean plants for early signs of squash bugs or spider mites.
  • Inspect okra and sweet corn for earworm activity as the season progresses.
Water

Watering this week

Water deeply in the morning to keep roots hydrated and reduce evaporation during hot afternoons.

One more thing

Harvest bush beans when pods are tender but before they begin to flower or turn woody.

All year

Zone 8b planting calendar

145 crops

Average planting and harvest windows for everything that grows in zone 8b — dates shift a week or two with the season, so treat them as a starting point and check the weekly guide above for what's open right now.

Vegetables 69

CropStart indoorsSow outdoors TransplantHarvestMaturity JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anaheim (New Mexico) Pepper Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 29 – Jun 17 78d
Artichoke Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 1 – Mar 15 — 165d
Arugula — Feb 1 – Mar 15 — Mar 3 – Apr 24 35d
Asparagus — — Feb 1 – Mar 1 — 2.5 yr
Banana Pepper Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 19 – Jun 17 73d
Beefsteak Tomato Jan 18 – Feb 1 — Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 27 – Jun 25 88d
Beet — Feb 1 – Mar 29 — Mar 23 – Jun 7 60d
Bell Pepper Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 14 – Jun 27 75d
Bok Choy — Feb 15 – Mar 15 — Mar 27 – May 4 45d
Broccoli Jan 11 – Jan 25 — Feb 15 – Mar 1 Apr 11 – May 10 63d
Brussels Sprouts Jan 18 – Feb 1 — Mar 1 – Mar 15 May 30 – Jul 3 100d
Bush Bean — Mar 8 – Sep 18 — Apr 27 – Nov 17 55d
Cabbage Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Feb 15 – Mar 1 Apr 26 – May 30 80d
Carrot — Feb 8 – Mar 29 — Apr 9 – Jun 17 70d
Cauliflower Jan 11 – Jan 25 — Mar 1 – Mar 15 Apr 25 – May 29 65d
Cayenne Pepper Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 24 – Jun 17 75d
Celery Dec 21 – Jan 4 — Mar 1 – Mar 15 Jun 9 – Jul 23 115d
Cherry Tomato Jan 18 – Feb 1 — Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 2 – May 31 63d
Collard Greens — Feb 15 – Mar 15 Mar 1 – Mar 15 Apr 11 – May 29 65d
Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea) — Mar 15 – Aug 19 — May 14 – Nov 17 75d
Cucumber — Mar 15 – Sep 13 Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 4 – Nov 17 58d
Edamame — Mar 15 – Aug 19 — May 29 – Nov 17 83d
Eggplant Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 19 – Jun 22 75d
Fava (Broad) Bean — Jan 18 – Feb 15 — Mar 29 – May 26 85d
Flour Corn — Mar 8 – Jul 20 — Jun 6 – Nov 17 105d
Garden Pea — Jan 18 – Feb 15 — Mar 14 – Apr 26 63d
Garlic — Nov 3 – Dec 15 — Jul 1 – Dec 22 255d
Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia) Dec 21 – Jan 4 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 Jun 23 – Jul 27 110d
Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle) — Mar 15 – Jul 20 — Jun 23 – Nov 17 110d
Habanero Pepper Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 Jun 13 – Jul 7 95d
Jalapeño Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 19 – Jun 22 75d
Kale Jan 18 – Feb 1 Feb 15 – Mar 15 Feb 15 – Mar 1 Apr 6 – May 19 58d
Kohlrabi — Feb 1 – Mar 1 — Mar 13 – Apr 25 48d
Leek Dec 21 – Jan 4 — Mar 1 – Mar 15 Jun 9 – Jul 13 110d
Lettuce Jan 18 – Feb 1 Feb 1 – Mar 15 Feb 15 – Mar 1 Mar 18 – May 14 53d
Lima Bean — Mar 15 – Aug 19 — May 19 – Nov 17 78d
Loofah (Luffa) — Mar 15 – Jun 20 Mar 15 – Mar 29 Jun 13 – Nov 17 120d
Malabar Spinach Feb 8 – Feb 15 Mar 15 – Sep 8 Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 14 – Nov 17 65d
Marconi Pepper Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 29 – Jun 22 80d
Mustard Greens — Feb 1 – Mar 15 — Mar 8 – Apr 29 40d
Napa Cabbage Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Feb 15 – Mar 1 Apr 6 – May 20 65d
Okra — Mar 22 – Sep 13 Mar 22 – Apr 5 May 16 – Nov 17 60d
Onion Dec 21 – Jan 4 — Feb 1 – Feb 15 May 2 – Jun 5 100d
Parsnip — Feb 15 – Mar 15 — May 26 – Jul 13 110d
Poblano Pepper Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 19 – Jun 17 73d
Pole Bean — Mar 8 – Sep 8 — May 7 – Nov 17 65d
Potato — Feb 15 – Mar 15 — Apr 26 – Jul 13 95d
Pumpkin — Mar 15 – Jul 20 — Jun 18 – Nov 17 108d
Radish — Feb 1 – Mar 29 — Feb 23 – Apr 28 26d
Roma Tomato Jan 18 – Feb 1 — Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 17 – Jun 10 75d
Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus) — Mar 22 – Jun 20 Mar 22 – Apr 5 Jun 30 – Nov 17 125d
Rutabaga — Feb 15 – Mar 15 — May 16 – Jun 23 95d
Scallion (Bunching Onion) — Feb 1 – Mar 29 — Apr 2 – Jun 7 65d
Scarlet Runner Bean — Mar 8 – Sep 8 — May 7 – Nov 17 65d
Serrano Pepper Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 29 – Jun 17 78d
Shallot — — Feb 1 – Feb 15 May 2 – May 26 95d
Shishito Pepper Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 9 – Jun 2 60d
Snow Pea — Jan 18 – Feb 15 — Mar 19 – Apr 26 65d
Spinach — Jan 18 – Mar 1 — Feb 22 – Apr 15 40d
Sugar Snap Pea — Jan 18 – Feb 15 — Mar 14 – Apr 21 60d
Sweet Corn — Mar 8 – Aug 19 — May 12 – Nov 17 78d
Sweet Potato — — Mar 15 – Apr 12 Jun 13 – Aug 10 105d
Swiss Chard — Feb 15 – Mar 29 — Apr 6 – May 28 55d
Tomatillo Jan 18 – Feb 1 — Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 22 – Jun 30 88d
Tomato Jan 18 – Feb 1 — Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 7 – Jun 15 73d
Turnip — Feb 1 – Mar 15 — Mar 13 – May 14 50d
Winter Squash — Mar 15 – Jul 30 — Jun 13 – Nov 17 100d
Yellow Summer Squash Feb 8 – Feb 15 Mar 15 – Sep 23 Mar 15 – Mar 29 Apr 29 – Nov 17 50d
Zucchini Feb 8 – Feb 15 Mar 15 – Sep 23 Mar 15 – Mar 29 Apr 29 – Nov 17 50d

Herbs 21

CropStart indoorsSow outdoors TransplantHarvestMaturity JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anise Hyssop — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 1.5 yr
Basil Jan 18 – Feb 1 Mar 15 – Sep 8 Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 4 – Nov 17 60d
Chervil — Feb 15 – Mar 15 — Apr 1 – May 14 53d
Chives — Feb 1 – Mar 1 Feb 15 – Mar 15 — 75d
Cilantro — Feb 15 – Mar 15 — Mar 27 – May 9 48d
Dill — Feb 15 – Mar 29 — Mar 27 – May 23 48d
Fennel — Mar 1 – Aug 19 — May 5 – Nov 17 78d
French Tarragon — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 85d
German Chamomile — Feb 15 – Mar 15 — Apr 16 – May 19 63d
Ginger — — Mar 29 – Apr 26 — 270d
Lemon Balm — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 80d
Lemongrass — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 105d
Mint — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 75d
Oregano — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 85d
Parsley Dec 21 – Jan 4 — Feb 15 – Mar 15 Apr 26 – Jun 13 80d
Rosemary — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 273d
Sage — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 83d
Shiso (Japanese Basil) Jan 18 – Feb 1 Mar 8 – Aug 24 Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 17 – Nov 17 78d
Summer Savory Jan 18 – Feb 1 Mar 15 – Sep 8 Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 14 – Nov 17 65d
Thai Basil Jan 18 – Feb 1 Mar 15 – Sep 3 Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 14 – Nov 17 68d
Thyme — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 135d

Fruits 24

CropStart indoorsSow outdoors TransplantHarvestMaturity JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Almond — — Feb 15 – Mar 29 — 3.5 yr
Apple — — Feb 1 – Mar 15 — 3.5 yr
Black Walnut — — Feb 15 – Mar 29 — 4.5 yr
Blackberry — — Feb 1 – Mar 1 — 1.2 yr
Blueberry — — Feb 15 – Mar 29 — 2.5 yr
Cantaloupe Feb 8 – Feb 15 Mar 15 – Aug 19 Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 24 – Nov 17 80d
Elderberry — — Feb 15 – Mar 29 — 2.5 yr
English (Persian) Walnut — — Feb 15 – Mar 29 — 4.5 yr
Fig — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 1.5 yr
Grape — — Feb 15 – Mar 15 — 2.5 yr
Ground Cherry Jan 18 – Feb 1 — Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 12 – Jun 5 70d
Honeydew Melon Feb 8 – Feb 15 Mar 15 – Aug 9 Mar 15 – Mar 29 Jun 3 – Nov 17 90d
Kumquat — — Mar 15 – Apr 12 — 2.5 yr
Mandarin Orange (Satsuma) — — Mar 15 – Apr 12 — 2.5 yr
Olive — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 3.5 yr
Peach — — Feb 1 – Mar 15 — 2.5 yr
Pear — — Feb 1 – Mar 15 — 3.5 yr
Pecan — — Feb 15 – Mar 29 — 4.5 yr
Plum — — Feb 1 – Mar 15 — 3.5 yr
Pomegranate — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 3.5 yr
Raspberry — — Feb 1 – Mar 1 — 1.2 yr
Strawberry — — Feb 1 – Mar 1 — 243d
Sweet Cherry — — Feb 1 – Mar 15 — 3.5 yr
Watermelon Feb 8 – Feb 15 Mar 15 – Aug 14 Mar 15 – Mar 29 May 29 – Nov 17 85d

Flowers 31

CropStart indoorsSow outdoors TransplantHarvestMaturity JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Bachelor's Button (Cornflower) — Feb 1 – Mar 15 — Apr 7 – May 24 68d
Bee Balm — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 1.5 yr
Black-Eyed Susan — Mar 1 – Jul 20 Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 110d
Borage — Mar 1 – Sep 8 — Apr 25 – Nov 17 63d
Butterfly Milkweed — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 1.5 yr
Calendula — Feb 15 – Mar 15 — Apr 1 – May 14 53d
Cleome (Spider Flower) — Mar 8 – Sep 3 — May 2 – Nov 17 65d
Cosmos — Mar 8 – Aug 19 — May 7 – Nov 17 75d
Dahlia — — Mar 8 – Mar 22 Jun 6 – Jul 20 105d
French Marigold Jan 25 – Feb 8 Mar 8 – Sep 18 Mar 8 – Mar 22 Apr 22 – Nov 17 53d
Garden Geranium (Zonal) Dec 21 – Jan 4 — Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 17 – Jun 20 80d
Garden Rose (Shrub) — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 1.5 yr
Garden Verbena Jan 4 – Jan 18 Mar 8 – Aug 19 Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 17 – Nov 17 80d
Hardy Hibiscus — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 1.5 yr
Hearts & Flowers (Heartleaf Iceplant) — — Mar 8 – Mar 29 — 75d
Lantana Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 17 – Jun 20 80d
Lavender — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 1.5 yr
Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian) Dec 7 – Dec 21 — Mar 15 – Mar 29 Jun 23 – Jul 27 110d
Nasturtium — Mar 8 – Sep 13 — Apr 27 – Nov 17 58d
Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine — — Mar 15 – Apr 12 May 14 – Jul 11 75d
Pansy Dec 21 – Jan 4 — Feb 1 – Feb 15 Apr 12 – May 16 80d
Petunia Dec 21 – Jan 4 — Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 17 – Jun 20 80d
Purple Coneflower — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 1.5 yr
Salvia — — Mar 8 – Mar 22 — 110d
Sedum ('Autumn Joy'-type) — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 1.5 yr
Snapdragon Jan 4 – Jan 18 — Feb 15 – Mar 1 May 6 – Jun 9 90d
Sunflower — Mar 8 – Aug 9 — May 17 – Nov 17 85d
Sweet Alyssum — Feb 15 – Mar 15 Mar 1 – Mar 15 Apr 6 – May 14 55d
Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle) Feb 1 – Feb 15 Mar 8 – Sep 3 Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 7 – Nov 17 68d
Yarrow — — Mar 1 – Mar 29 — 135d
Zinnia Feb 1 – Feb 15 Mar 8 – Sep 3 Mar 8 – Mar 22 May 7 – Nov 17 68d
Local pages

Cities in zone 8b

15

Columbia, SC · Virginia Beach, VA · Norfolk, VA · Montgomery, AL · Jackson, MS · Shreveport, LA · Augusta, GA · Wilmington, NC · Dallas, TX · Fort Worth, TX · El Paso, TX · Portland, OR · Eugene, OR · Salem, OR · Tacoma, WA

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