Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36311 (Ariton, 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, Troy, AL (22 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)257 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Highland Home 2 S (43 mi), Broad Acres (52 mi), Morris Farms (58 mi).
4-inch depth
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Highland Home 2 S (43 mi), Broad Acres (52 mi), Morris Farms (58 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 36311 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 69°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 Apr 25 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 26–Oct 24
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 21: 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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 10 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 30 |
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 4 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 14 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 24 | Nov 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 10 | Nov 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 24 | Dec 7 |
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 36311
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 10) and first fall frost (Nov 21). 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 13–27 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 13–27 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 13–27 | Feb 17–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 17 (transplant) Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 27–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 16–30 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 17 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 3–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 16–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 16–30 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 1–15 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 10–17 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 10–17 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 16–30 | Mar 17–24 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (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: Troy, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00018323), elevation 542 ft, 22.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy 2 W, AL | 23 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 16 |
| Clayton, AL | 23 mi | Mar 11 | Nov 19 |
| Dothan Rgnl AP, AL | 24 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36311
When is the last frost in 36311?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36311 is March 10. For a more cautious planting date, use March 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36311?
The average first fall freeze is November 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 4.
What hardiness zone is 36311?
ZIP 36311 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 36311 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
36010 Brundidge 36017 Clio 36360 Ozark 36374 36346 36048 Louisville 36362 Fort Rucker 36317
Other ZIP codes in Dale County
36322 36350 36360 36362 36371 36374 All Dale 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.