Frost dates for Highland Home #2, 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 12
typical year
Safe to plant
March 30
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 18
typical year
Growing season
253 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 12 – 26 | – |
| Spinach | – | Jan 29 – Feb 19 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 12 – Mar 5 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 12 – Mar 26 | Oct 7 – 21 |
| Onions | – | Feb 12 – 26 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 19 – Mar 12 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Beets | – | Feb 12 – 26 | Sep 9 – 23 |
| Kale | Jan 1 – 15 | Feb 12 – 26 | Sep 9 – 23 |
| Broccoli | Jan 1 – 15 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Sep 9 – 23 |
| Cabbage | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Feb 12 – 26 | Sep 9 – 23 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 7 – 28 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 2 – 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 6 – 20 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 30 – Apr 27 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 30 – Sep 9 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 30 – Apr 27 | – |
| Basil | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – 13 | – |
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 30 | March 12 | February 19 |
| Fall frost before | November 4 | November 18 | December 10 |
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 25 (March 19 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 3.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station HIGHLAND HOME #2, AL US (USC00013818), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 3 zip codes, all within 15 miles:
36041, 36046, 36047
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.