Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 35016 (Arab, AL)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Guntersville, AL (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)244 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Stanley Farm, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 70°, Fri 68°, Sat 63°.
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 62°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Stanley Farm, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 69°, Fri 68°, Sat 65°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 35016 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 4 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 18: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 28 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 5 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 6 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 1 | Nov 7 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 19 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 6 | Dec 1 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 35016
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 18). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 8–22 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 8–22 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 26–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–26 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 12–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 19–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 19–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 5–19 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 26–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 5–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Guntersville, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00013573), elevation 578 ft, 10.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guntersville NO.2, AL | 10 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 19 |
| Owens Cross Roads 3S, AL | 16 mi | Apr 4 | Oct 30 |
| Cullman 3 ENE, AL | 19 mi | Apr 5 | Nov 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 19 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 35016
When is the last frost in 35016?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 35016 is March 19. For a more cautious planting date, use April 5, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 35016?
The average first fall freeze is November 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 35016?
ZIP 35016 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 35016 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
35087 Joppa 35019 Baileyton 35175 Union Grove 35083 Holly Pond 35976 Guntersville 35980 Douglas 35621 Eva 35058 Fairview
Other ZIP codes in Marshall County
35175 35747 35755 35950 35951 35957 35976 35980 All Marshall County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.