Frost dates for Dothan, AL
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
March 1
typical year
Safe to plant
March 21
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 24
typical year
Growing season
270 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Feb 1 – 15 | – |
| Spinach | – | Jan 18 – Feb 8 | Sep 29 – Oct 13 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 1 – 22 | Sep 29 – Oct 13 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 1 – Mar 15 | Oct 13 – 27 |
| Onions | – | Feb 1 – 15 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 8 – 22 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 8 – Mar 1 | Sep 1 – 15 |
| Beets | – | Feb 1 – 15 | Sep 15 – 29 |
| Kale | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 1 – 15 | Sep 15 – 29 |
| Broccoli | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Sep 15 – 29 |
| Cabbage | Dec 7 – 21 | Feb 1 – 15 | Sep 15 – 29 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 13 – Nov 3 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 17 – 31 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 21 – Apr 11 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 21 – Apr 18 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 21 – Apr 11 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 21 – Sep 15 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 21 – Apr 18 | – |
| Basil | Feb 14 – 28 | Mar 28 – Apr 4 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | March 21 | March 1 | February 3 |
| Fall frost before | November 7 | November 24 | December 24 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around February 12 (March 11 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 16.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 10 towns.
Dothan, Ozark, Taylor, Midland City, Rehobeth, Malvern, Newton, Pinckard, Grimes, Napier Field
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station DOTHAN RGNL AP, AL US (USW00013839), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 7 zip codes, all within 14 miles:
36301, 36303, 36305, 36350, 36352, 36360, 36371
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.