Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 35771 (Section, 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, Scottsboro, AL (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)209 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
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 61°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Hodges, 11 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 70°, Fri 68°, Sat 65°.
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 61°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Valley Head 1 SSW (22 mi), AAMU-JTG (36 mi), Wtars (39 mi).
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 35771 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). 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 20 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
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 30: 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) | Mar 18 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 20 |
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) | Oct 17 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 30 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 12 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 17 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 4 | Oct 30 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 22 | Nov 8 |
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 35771
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Oct 30). 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 | Feb 7–21 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 7–21 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 7–21 | Mar 14–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 7–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–25 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 24–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 24–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 10–31 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 21–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 10–24 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 7–14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 7–14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 7–14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 7–14 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 7–14 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 10–24 | Apr 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (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: Scottsboro, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00017304), elevation 615 ft, 9.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsboro 2 NE, AL | 11 mi | Apr 2 | Oct 30 |
| Ft Payne, AL | 17 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
| Sand Mt Substn, AL | 17 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 3 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 35771
When is the last frost in 35771?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 35771 is April 4. For a more cautious planting date, use April 20, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 35771?
The average first fall freeze is October 30. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 17.
What hardiness zone is 35771?
ZIP 35771 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 35771 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
35971 Fyffe 35755 Langston 35769 Scottsboro 35744 Dutton 35975 35986 Rainsville 35988 Sylvania 35974 Geraldine
Other ZIP codes in Jackson County
35740 35744 35745 35746 35751 35752 35764 35765 35766 35768 35769 35772 35774 35776 35958 35966 All Jackson County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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