Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36320 (Cottonwood, 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, Marianna Muni AP, FL (17 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)270 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 70°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Newton 11 SW (52 mi), Newton 8 W (53 mi).
4-inch depth
75°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Newton 11 SW (52 mi), Newton 8 W (53 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 36320 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 75°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 16 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
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 2–23
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 2–23
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 2–30
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 27: 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 2 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 21 |
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 8 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 27 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 28 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 16 | Nov 13 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 1 | Nov 27 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 9 | Dec 22 |
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 36320
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 1) and first fall frost (Nov 27). 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 4–18 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 4–18 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 4–18 | Feb 8–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 1–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–23 (transplant) Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 18–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 4–18 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 4–18 | Feb 1–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 7–21 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 4–18 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 25–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 7–21 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 7–21 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 1–8 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 1–8 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 1–8 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 1–8 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 1–8 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 7–21 | Mar 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (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: Marianna Muni AP, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003818), elevation 113 ft, 16.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan Rgnl AP, AL | 20 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 24 |
| Headland, AL | 22 mi | Mar 5 | Nov 24 |
| Bonifay Tri Co AP, FL | 22 mi | Mar 5 | Nov 18 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36320
When is the last frost in 36320?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36320 is March 1. For a more cautious planting date, use March 21, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36320?
The average first fall freeze is November 27. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 8.
What hardiness zone is 36320?
ZIP 36320 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 36320 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
32426 Campbellton 36301 Dothan 32445 Malone 36312 Ashford 36370 36321 Cowarts 36343 Gordon 36375 Slocomb
Other ZIP codes in Houston County
36301 36303 36305 36312 36321 36343 36352 36370 36376 All Houston 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.