Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36321 (Cowarts, 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, Headland, AL (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)264 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
74°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 8 W (49 mi), Newton 11 SW (50 mi).
4-inch depth
74°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 8 W (49 mi), Newton 11 SW (50 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 36321 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 74°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 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
- Lettuce: fall transplant Sep 29–Oct 20
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 29–Oct 20
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 29–Oct 27
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 13–Nov 10
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 13–Nov 10
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 24: 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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 5 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 25 |
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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 18 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 5 | Nov 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 19 | Dec 9 |
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 36321
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 5) and first fall frost (Nov 24). 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 8–22 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 8–22 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 8–22 | Feb 12–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 5–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 20 (transplant) Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 22–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–29 (transplant) Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–29 (transplant) Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 11–25 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 29–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 11–25 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 11–25 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 13–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | Oct 13–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 4–18 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 5–12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 5–12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 11–25 | Mar 12–19 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (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: Headland, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00013761), elevation 370 ft, 10.7 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 | 12 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 24 |
| Marianna Muni AP, FL | 27 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 27 |
| Donalsonville, GA | 27 mi | Mar 6 | Nov 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 5 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36321
When is the last frost in 36321?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36321 is March 5. For a more cautious planting date, use March 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36321?
The average first fall freeze is November 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 6.
What hardiness zone is 36321?
ZIP 36321 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 36321 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
36376 Webb 36312 Ashford 36303 Dothan 36301 Dothan 36370 36345 Headland 36320 Cottonwood 36305 Dothan
Other ZIP codes in Houston County
36301 36303 36305 36312 36320 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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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.