Georgia planting calendar

When to plant rosemary in Georgia — sow, transplant & harvest dates

Georgia is mostly USDA zone 8a (range 6b-9a). Dates below are derived from rosemary's frost tolerance and Georgia's frost window — not generic national averages.

Rosemary planting timetable for Georgia

Stage	When in Georgia	Anchor
Start seeds indoors	late January (January 25)	10 weeks before the last frost (early April)
Transplant outside	mid-April (April 19)	14 days after the last frost (early April)
First harvest (estimate)	mid-July (July 18)	~90 days from transplant

Dates are state-wide averages for the dominant zone. Local microclimates — elevation, urban heat, coastal moderation — can shift the window by 1-2 weeks. Use the frost-date calculator for a date tuned to your town.

Why Georgia's climate shifts the rosemary dates

Georgia's last spring frost averages early April and first fall frost early November, which sets the whole planting clock. Georgia runs from cool mountains to a warm coastal plain, with a long humid season. Most of the state gardens in zone 8. Wait for warm soil — rosemary stall in cold ground even after the air warms, so don't rush them out.

Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before the last frost; germination is slow and erratic (14–21 days at 18–21 °C / 65–70 °F) with low viability, so propagation by stem cuttings is preferred by most Extension services. Transplant outdoors after the last frost once soil has warmed — rosemary is perennial only in USDA zones 7–10 (established plants survive to about −12 °C / 10 °F); in zones 6 and colder treat as a tender annual or overwinter potted plants indoors before the first autumn frost. Tip harvests of stem ends begin around 80–100 days from transplant.

Frost-risk note

Don't plant before early April — a hard freeze can still set young plants back. In the Blue Ridge mountains in the north (zone 6b) the safe date runs a week or two later.

Regional variation within Georgia

the Blue Ridge mountains in the north (zone 6b) runs roughly 1-2 weeks behind the state average; the Atlantic coast around Savannah (zone 9a) can plant 1-2 weeks earlier.

Atlanta — USDA zone 8a
Savannah — USDA zone 9a
Augusta — USDA zone 8b
Columbus — USDA zone 8b
Macon — USDA zone 8b

What else to plant in Georgia around then

Pair the post-frost slot with other warm-season crops — peppers, beans, squash, and cucumbers.

Quick-grow guide

Sun: Full sun — 6+ hours direct.
Soil temperature for germination: 18–21 °C (65–70 °F).
Spacing: 18–36 inches (45–90 cm) between plants.
Days to harvest: ~90 days from planting out.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to plant rosemary in Georgia?

In Georgia (mostly USDA zone 8a), sow rosemary indoors around late January, transplant outdoors mid-April (after the last frost, early April), and harvest from mid-July. Rosemary are half-hardy — young plants shrug off a light frost but not a hard freeze, so sowing can start a couple of weeks before the last spring frost.

What USDA zone is Georgia?

Most of Georgia sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a, with the state spanning roughly 6b-9a from the Blue Ridge mountains in the north (zone 6b) to the Atlantic coast around Savannah (zone 9a). The last spring frost averages early April and the first fall frost early November.

Can you grow rosemary in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia's dominant zone 8a supports rosemary — the key is timing. Rosemary are half-hardy — young plants shrug off a light frost but not a hard freeze, so sowing can start a couple of weeks before the last spring frost.

Does the planting date change across Georgia?

the Blue Ridge mountains in the north (zone 6b) runs roughly 1-2 weeks behind the state average; the Atlantic coast around Savannah (zone 9a) can plant 1-2 weeks earlier.

What else can I plant in Georgia around the same time?

Pair the post-frost slot with other warm-season crops — peppers, beans, squash, and cucumbers.

Source and methodology

State zone spans from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023); frost-date averages from NOAA Climate Data Online. Hot-state two-season timing cross-checked against the UF/IFAS Florida Gardening Calendar and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension planting calendar. Curated by the Growli editorial team.