Zone 8a covers 26 days of last-frost dates. We measured Little Rock, AR at Mar 9 and Baltimore, MD at Apr 4. Give us your town or ZIP and we'll use ten years of daily lows recorded at your own coordinates instead of the middle of that range.
Why these dates work in zone 8a
Zone 8a's last spring frost averages Mar 15 and first fall frost Nov 19 — about 249 frost-free days. Corn is frost-sensitive, so the 2w after frost timing builds in a safety margin against a late cold snap — setting plants out too early risks losing them to frost.
Common questions
How long does corn take to grow in zone 8a?
Corn matures in about 70–90 days from sowing. In zone 8a that means sowing around Mar 29 and first picking around Jun 7.
Will corn survive frost in zone 8a?
No — corn is frost-sensitive. In zone 8a, wait until after the last frost (around Mar 15) to plant, and harvest before the first fall frost (around Nov 19).
For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full corn growing guide →