Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36862 (Penton, 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, Lafayette 2W, AL (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 950% 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)204 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
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Wedowee (30 mi), Tuskegee (37 mi), Morris Farms (43 mi).
4-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 Wedowee (30 mi), Tuskegee (37 mi), Morris Farms (43 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 36862 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 68°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 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
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 22 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 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) | Oct 18 |
| 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 21 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 9 | Oct 30 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 26 | 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 36862
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 9) 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 12–26 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 12–26 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 12–26 | Mar 19–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–25 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 24–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 24–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 10–31 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Mar 26–Apr 16 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 5–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 10–24 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 12–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 12–19 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 12–19 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 15–29 | Apr 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 12–26 (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: Lafayette 2W, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00014502), elevation 740 ft, 1.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Hill 2NW, AL | 13 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 27 |
| W Pt, GA | 16 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 9 |
| Opelika, AL | 17 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36862
When is the last frost in 36862?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36862 is April 9. For a more cautious planting date, use April 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36862?
The average first fall freeze is October 30. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 18.
What hardiness zone is 36862?
ZIP 36862 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 36862 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
36863 Huguley 36855 Fredonia 36879 Waverly 36850 Camp Hill 36852 Cusseta 36801 Opelika 36276 Abanda 36256 New Site
Other ZIP codes in Chambers County
36852 36854 36855 36863 36879 All Chambers County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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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.