Auburn, Alabama planting calendar and frost dates
Auburn is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 13 and the first fall frost around November 17, giving about 246 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 13
- Typical first frost
- November 17
- Frost-free season
- 246 days
Frost dates in Auburn
Last spring frost
- February 21Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 13Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 3Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 17Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 4Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 246 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around February 28 and returns around December 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Auburn No.2, 4.7 miles NNE of the city center and 127 feet higher. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Auburn
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Auburn
Auburn's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 13 in 36830 to March 29 in 36879. The hardiness zone is 8a in 36879, and 8b in 36830, 36832.
Planting dates for popular crops in Auburn
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 6 to 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 4 to 11 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 16 to 30 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 18 to Sep 22 |
| Cilantro | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 13 to 20 | — |
| Basil | Feb 13 to 27 | Apr 3 to 10 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 20 to 27 | Jul 28 to Aug 4 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Nov 17 to Dec 1 |
| Onions | Nov 21 to Jan 2 | Feb 13 to 27 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 16 to Feb 13 | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 28 to Aug 25 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 20 to Mar 13 | Aug 25 to Sep 15 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 25 to May 2 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 11 to 25 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 25 to Sep 1 |
| Zucchini | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Broccoli | Dec 26 to Jan 16 | Feb 13 to 27 | Sep 1 to 29 |
| Peas | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Spinach | Jan 30 to Feb 6 | Mar 6 to 20 | Sep 8 to Oct 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 13 to Apr 3 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 15 to 22 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 6 to Dec 1 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 6 to Nov 17 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Oct 6 to 20 |
Nearby cities
- Columbus, GA zone 8b, last frost Mar 5
- Montgomery, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 13
- South Fulton, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 15
- Hoover, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 19
- Dothan, AL zone 9a, last frost Mar 1
- Mableton, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
Planting in AlabamaAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Auburn
Questions
When is the last frost in Auburn?
Around March 13 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Auburn No.2. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 3.
What planting zone is Auburn in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Auburn?
Start seeds indoors February 6 to 20 and set plants out April 3 to 17.
When is the first frost in Auburn?
Around November 17 in a typical year, and before November 1 about 1 year in 10.