When to Plant in Alabama: Vegetable & Flower Planting Calendar
Quick answer
Plant around your local last spring frost: across the 656 Alabama ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median is Mar 21 and the median first fall frost is Nov 10 (nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020). Transplant tomatoes 1–2 weeks after your last frost: Zone 7 areas: Apr 11 – Apr 18; Zone 8 areas: Mar 28 – Apr 4; Zone 9 areas: Mar 10 – Mar 17.
Alabama spans USDA hardiness zones 7b–9b on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). For the 656 of its 656 ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the nearest NOAA station’s median last spring frost (32°F, 1991–2020) is Mar 21 (middle 80% of ZIP codes: Mar 4 – Apr 4) and the median first fall frost is Nov 10 (Oct 31 – Nov 24). Use this guide to time seed-starting, transplanting and fall planting.
Where these dates come from: every date range is counted from the median (50% probability) 32°F last spring and first fall frost dates in NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the area shown. The rule under each date, such as “4–6 weeks before last frost,” shows how it was counted. These are averages: in about half of years a frost still comes after the spring date, and elevation, nearby water and microclimate can shift your yard by a week or more. For dates for your exact location, enter your ZIP code in the planner.
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Alabama frost dates by zone area
| Zone areas | Most common nearest NOAA stations | Median last spring frost (32°F) | Median first fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7 (48 ZIP codes) | Haleyville, AL, Bridgeport 5 Nw, AL, Hamilton 3 S, AL | Apr 4middle 80%: Mar 29 – Apr 9 | Oct 31middle 80%: Oct 28 – Nov 8 |
| Zone 8 (537 ZIP codes) | Birmingham Airport, AL, Bessemer 3 Wsw, AL, Pinson, AL | Mar 21middle 80%: Mar 10 – Apr 4 | Nov 10middle 80%: Nov 1 – Nov 19 |
| Zone 9 (67 ZIP codes) | Mobile Dwtn Airport, AL, Mobile, AL, Robertsdale, AL | Mar 3middle 80%: Feb 21 – Mar 13 | Nov 25middle 80%: Nov 23 – Dec 6 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal freeze-date probabilities (32°F, 50% probability). Station-level medians; your yard may differ.
How this table is built: each Alabama ZIP code is matched to its nearest NOAA 1991–2020 freeze-data station (within 60 miles) and grouped by its 2023 USDA hardiness zone; dates are medians across the ZIP codes in each group. Some nearest stations are across the state line (Ardmore, TN, Bonifay Tri Co Airport, FL, Carrollton, GA, Columbus Metro Airport, GA, Columbus, MS, Donalsonville, GA…). For your own ZIP, use the planner.
Alabama vegetable planting calendar
Planting dates for each zone area of Alabama, counted from that area’s median frost dates (shown under each column). Rows run in calendar order. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP.
| Plant, task and rule | Zone 7 areasLast frost Apr 4 · First frost Oct 31 | Zone 8 areasLast frost Mar 21 · First frost Nov 10 | Zone 9 areasLast frost Mar 3 · First frost Nov 25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Dec 23 – Jan 6 |
| Cabbage · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Dec 23 – Jan 6 |
| Kale · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Dec 23 – Jan 6 |
| Tomatoes · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 6 – Jan 20 |
| Peppers · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 6 – Jan 20 |
| Eggplant · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 6 – Jan 20 |
| Peas · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Feb 21 – Mar 7Harvest (est.) Apr 22 – May 26 | Feb 7 – Feb 21Harvest (est.) Apr 8 – May 12 | Jan 20 – Feb 3Harvest (est.) Mar 21 – Apr 24 |
| Spinach · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Feb 21 – Mar 7Harvest (est.) Apr 7 – May 6 | Feb 7 – Feb 21Harvest (est.) Mar 24 – Apr 22 | Jan 20 – Feb 3Harvest (est.) Mar 6 – Apr 4 |
| Basil · Start indoors4–6 weeks before last frost | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Jan 20 – Feb 3 |
| Radishes · Direct sow2–5 weeks before last frost | Feb 28 – Mar 21Harvest (est.) Mar 20 – Apr 20 | Feb 14 – Mar 7Harvest (est.) Mar 6 – Apr 6 | Jan 27 – Feb 17Harvest (est.) Feb 16 – Mar 19 |
| Lettuce · Direct sow2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 7 – Mar 21Harvest (est.) May 6 – Jun 9 | Feb 21 – Mar 7Harvest (est.) Apr 22 – May 26 | Feb 3 – Feb 17Harvest (est.) Apr 4 – May 8 |
| Onions (sets/transplants) · Plant sets/transplants2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 7 – Mar 21Harvest (est.) May 31 – Jul 19 | Feb 21 – Mar 7Harvest (est.) May 17 – Jul 5 | Feb 3 – Feb 17Harvest (est.) Apr 29 – Jun 17 |
| Broccoli · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 7 – Mar 21Harvest (est.) Apr 26 – May 30 | Feb 21 – Mar 7Harvest (est.) Apr 12 – May 16 | Feb 3 – Feb 17Harvest (est.) Mar 25 – Apr 28 |
| Cabbage · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 7 – Mar 21Harvest (est.) May 16 – Jun 19 | Feb 21 – Mar 7Harvest (est.) May 2 – Jun 5 | Feb 3 – Feb 17Harvest (est.) Apr 14 – May 18 |
| Kale · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Feb 3 – Feb 17 |
| Marigolds · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Mar 14 – Apr 4 | Feb 28 – Mar 21 | Feb 10 – Mar 3 |
| Zinnias · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Mar 14 – Apr 4 | Feb 28 – Mar 21 | Feb 10 – Mar 3 |
| Potatoes · Plant seed potatoes1–2 weeks before last frost | Mar 21 – Mar 28Harvest (est.) Jun 14 – Jul 16 | Mar 7 – Mar 14Harvest (est.) May 31 – Jul 2 | Feb 17 – Feb 24Harvest (est.) May 13 – Jun 14 |
| Marigolds · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 4 – Apr 18 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Zinnias · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 4 – Apr 18 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Tomatoes · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 11 – Apr 18Harvest (est.) Jun 20 – Jul 17 | Mar 28 – Apr 4Harvest (est.) Jun 6 – Jul 3 | Mar 10 – Mar 17Harvest (est.) May 19 – Jun 15 |
| Beans (bush & pole) · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 11 – Apr 18Harvest (est.) May 26 – Jun 27 | Mar 28 – Apr 4Harvest (est.) May 12 – Jun 13 | Mar 10 – Mar 17Harvest (est.) Apr 24 – May 26 |
| Sweet corn · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 11 – Apr 18Harvest (est.) Jun 15 – Jul 17 | Mar 28 – Apr 4Harvest (est.) Jun 1 – Jul 3 | Mar 10 – Mar 17Harvest (est.) May 14 – Jun 15 |
| Cucumbers · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 11 – Apr 18Harvest (est.) May 21 – Jun 22 | Mar 28 – Apr 4Harvest (est.) May 7 – Jun 8 | Mar 10 – Mar 17Harvest (est.) Apr 19 – May 21 |
| Squash · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 11 – Apr 18Harvest (est.) May 21 – Jun 7 | Mar 28 – Apr 4Harvest (est.) May 7 – May 24 | Mar 10 – Mar 17Harvest (est.) Apr 19 – May 6 |
| Pumpkins · Direct sow1–3 weeks after last frost | Apr 11 – Apr 25Harvest (est.) Jun 30 – Aug 3 | Mar 28 – Apr 11Harvest (est.) Jun 16 – Jul 20 | Mar 10 – Mar 24Harvest (est.) May 29 – Jul 2 |
| Basil · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | Apr 11 – Apr 18Harvest (est.) May 23 – May 30 | Mar 28 – Apr 4Harvest (est.) May 9 – May 16 | Mar 10 – Mar 17Harvest (est.) Apr 21 – Apr 28 |
| Peppers · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | Apr 18 – Apr 25Harvest (est.) Jun 22 – Jul 9 | Apr 4 – Apr 11Harvest (est.) Jun 8 – Jun 25 | Mar 17 – Mar 24Harvest (est.) May 21 – Jun 7 |
| Eggplant · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | Apr 18 – Apr 25Harvest (est.) Jun 27 – Jul 24 | Apr 4 – Apr 11Harvest (est.) Jun 13 – Jul 10 | Mar 17 – Mar 24Harvest (est.) May 26 – Jun 22 |
| Broccoli · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 8 – Aug 22Harvest (est.) Sep 27 – Oct 31 | Aug 18 – Sep 1Harvest (est.) Oct 7 – Nov 10 | Sep 2 – Sep 16Harvest (est.) Oct 22 – Nov 25 |
| Cabbage · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 8 – Aug 22Harvest (est.) Oct 17 – Nov 20 | Aug 18 – Sep 1Harvest (est.) Oct 27 – Nov 30 | Sep 2 – Sep 16Harvest (est.) Nov 11 – Dec 15 |
| Kale · Fall sow8–10 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 22 – Sep 5Harvest (est.) Oct 11 – Nov 14 | Sep 1 – Sep 15Harvest (est.) Oct 21 – Nov 24 | Sep 16 – Sep 30Harvest (est.) Nov 5 – Dec 9 |
| Lettuce · Fall sow6–8 weeks before first fall frost | Sep 5 – Sep 19Harvest (est.) Nov 4 – Dec 8 | Sep 15 – Sep 29Harvest (est.) Nov 14 – Dec 18 | Sep 30 – Oct 14Harvest (est.) Nov 29 – Jan 2, 2027 |
| Spinach · Fall sow4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech) | Sep 12 – Oct 3Harvest (est.) Oct 27 – Dec 2 | Sep 22 – Oct 13Harvest (est.) Nov 6 – Dec 12 | Oct 7 – Oct 28Harvest (est.) Nov 21 – Dec 27 |
| Radishes · Fall sow4–6 weeks before first fall frost | Sep 19 – Oct 3Harvest (est.) Oct 9 – Nov 2 | Sep 29 – Oct 13Harvest (est.) Oct 19 – Nov 12 | Oct 14 – Oct 28Harvest (est.) Nov 3 – Nov 27 |
| Daffodils · Fall plant bulbs4 weeks before to 2 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Oct 3 – Nov 14 | Oct 13 – Nov 24 | Oct 28 – Dec 9 |
| Tulips · Fall plant bulbs2 weeks before to 4 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Oct 17 – Nov 28 | Oct 27 – Dec 8 | Nov 11 – Dec 23 |
| Garlic · Fall plant cloves2 weeks before to 3 weeks after first fall frost, while the soil is still workable (SDSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech) | Oct 17 – Nov 21Harvest (est.) Jun 24, 2027 – Aug 18, 2027 | Oct 27 – Dec 1Harvest (est.) Jul 4, 2027 – Aug 28, 2027 | Nov 11 – Dec 16Harvest (est.) Jul 19, 2027 – Sep 12, 2027 |
About the harvest estimates
Each expected harvest window adds the days to harvest from the sources below to the planting window. Days count from sowing seed (or planting seed potatoes, onion sets or garlic cloves) or, where marked, from setting transplants out; “Start indoors” rows have no harvest of their own. Harvest timing varies with variety and weather, and many crops keep producing for weeks after the first picking. For frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, basil) the window stops at the first fall frost: harvest may end early at the first fall frost. Flowers and bulbs show no harvest window, and kale has no sourced figure for spring transplants.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension, Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1, “Days to Harvest”; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Onions in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Garlic in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Basil in a Home Garden.
Growing notes for each crop
- Peas: Tolerates light frost; sow when soil is workable
- Spinach: Fall crop too: sow 4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech)
- Lettuce: Bolts in heat; succession sow; fall crop too
- Radishes: Fast (3–4 weeks); sow again for fall (see Fall sow dates)
- Kale: Fall crop too (see Fall sow dates); frost sweetens leaves
- Onions (sets/transplants): Choose day-length type suited to your latitude
- Potatoes: Soil at least 45°F (UMD); hill as plants grow
- Broccoli: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Cabbage: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Tomatoes: Wait for nights reliably above about 52°F (Colorado State)
- Peppers: Need warm soil: about 65°F is optimal for transplanting (UC ANR)
- Eggplant: Transplant after nights stay above 50°F (UMN)
- Beans (bush & pole): Seeds rot in cold, wet soil
- Sweet corn: Soil 60°F+ (UNH, UMN); plant in blocks for pollination
- Cucumbers: Frost-tender; watch for cucumber beetles
- Squash: Frost-tender; watch for squash vine borer
- Pumpkins: For October pumpkins, many sow in late May–June
- Basil: Very cold-sensitive
- Marigolds: Easy warm-season annual
- Zinnias: Easy warm-season annual
- Tulips: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule. In zone 9, chill bulbs 12–16 weeks first (Clemson)
- Daffodils: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule; slightly earlier than tulips is fine
- Garlic: Harvest the following early summer
Alabama USDA zone guides: Zone 7 planting guide Zone 8 planting guide Zone 9 planting guide
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Tips for Alabama gardeners
- Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar — warm-season crops stall in cold soil. An inexpensive soil thermometer helps.
- Harden off transplants over 7–10 days before planting out (UC ANR, SDSU).
- Ask your local Cooperative Extension office about varieties and timing for your county; find it in the USDA NIFA land-grant university directory.
- Keep weeds down early — see our weed identification guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Alabama?
Across the 656 Alabama ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median last spring frost (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020) at the nearest station is Mar 21, and the middle 80% of ZIP codes range from Mar 4 to Apr 4. Check the average for your ZIP code, and remember frost can occur after the average date.
When can I plant tomatoes in Alabama?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after your average last frost, once nights stay above about 52°F (Colorado State). Typical dates: Zone 7 areas: Apr 11 – Apr 18; Zone 8 areas: Mar 28 – Apr 4; Zone 9 areas: Mar 10 – Mar 17.
What USDA zone is Alabama?
Alabama spans roughly USDA hardiness zones 7b–9b on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). Hardiness zones describe winter low temperatures, not frost dates.
Other state planting calendars
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