Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 35811 (Huntsville, 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, Owens Cross Roads 3S, AL (17 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)210 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 AAMU-JTG, 3 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 72°, Fri 70°, Sat 65°.
4-inch depth
66°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 64°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station AAMU-JTG, 3 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 72°, Fri 71°, Sat 67°.
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 35811 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 66°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 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 13 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 16 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 4 | Oct 30 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 24 | 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 35811
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) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 10–31 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 10–31 (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) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| 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) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 7–14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| 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: Owens Cross Roads 3S, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00016196), elevation 590 ft, 17.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville Intl AP, AL | 19 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 8 |
| Belle Mina 2 N, AL | 23 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 1 |
| Fayetteville WTP, TN | 23 mi | Apr 7 | Oct 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 35811
When is the last frost in 35811?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 35811 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 35811?
The average first fall freeze is October 30. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 17.
What hardiness zone is 35811?
ZIP 35811 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 35811 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
35741 Huntsville 35759 Meridianville 35810 Huntsville 35801 Huntsville 35748 Huntsville 35816 Huntsville 35802 Huntsville 35896 Huntsville
Other ZIP codes in Madison County
35741 35748 35749 35750 35757 35758 35759 35760 35761 35763 35773 35801 35802 35803 35805 35806 35808 35810 35816 35824 35896 All Madison County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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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.