Decatur, Alabama planting calendar and frost dates
Decatur is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 26 and the first fall frost around November 7, giving about 228 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- March 26
- Typical first frost
- November 7
- Frost-free season
- 228 days
Frost dates in Decatur
Last spring frost
- March 5Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 26Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 9Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 7Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 26Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 228 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 March 12 and returns around November 19.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Decatur 4se, 3.5 miles NE of the city center. 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 Decatur
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Decatur
Decatur's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 4 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 24 in 35671 to April 2 in 35673. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Decatur
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 13 to 27 | Apr 10 to 24 | Jul 25 to Aug 1 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 12 to 26 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 8 to Sep 12 |
| Cilantro | Feb 12 to 26 | Mar 26 to Apr 2 | — |
| Basil | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 10 to 17 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 5 to 12 | Jul 18 to 25 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 12 to 26 | Nov 7 to 21 |
| Onions | Dec 4 to Jan 15 | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 10 to 24 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 23 to Feb 20 | Apr 10 to 24 | Jul 18 to Aug 15 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 5 to 26 | Aug 15 to Sep 5 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 1 to 15 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 10 to 24 | Aug 15 to 22 |
| Zucchini | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 10 to 24 | Aug 15 to 29 |
| Broccoli | Jan 8 to 29 | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Aug 22 to Sep 19 |
| Peas | — | Feb 12 to 26 | Aug 15 to 29 |
| Spinach | Feb 12 to 19 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 29 to Oct 3 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 26 to Apr 16 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 22 to 29 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 26 to Nov 21 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 26 to Nov 7 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 12 to 26 | Sep 26 to Oct 10 |
Nearby cities
- Madison, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Huntsville, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Columbia, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 10
- Birmingham, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 21
- Spring Hill, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 5
- Hoover, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 19
Planting in AlabamaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Decatur
Questions
When is the last frost in Decatur?
Around March 26 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Decatur 4se. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 9.
What planting zone is Decatur in?
USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Decatur?
Start seeds indoors February 13 to 27 and set plants out April 10 to 24.
When is the first frost in Decatur?
Around November 7 in a typical year, and before October 26 about 1 year in 10.