Dothan, Alabama planting calendar and frost dates
Dothan is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 1 and the first fall frost around November 24, giving about 270 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- March 1
- Typical first frost
- November 24
- Frost-free season
- 270 days
Frost dates in Dothan
Last spring frost
- February 3Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 21Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 7Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 24Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 24Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 270 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 12 and returns around December 16.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dothan Rgnl Airport, 5.3 miles NW 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 Dothan
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
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, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
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, peppers, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, 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, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Dothan
Dothan's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 1 in 36301 to March 5 in 36345. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Dothan
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 15 to 29 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 11 to 18 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 4 to 18 | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Aug 25 to Sep 29 |
| Cilantro | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Mar 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Mar 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 8 to 15 | Aug 4 to 11 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Nov 24 to Dec 8 |
| Onions | Nov 9 to Dec 21 | Feb 1 to 15 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 12 to 26 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Mar 15 to 29 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 25 to Jan 22 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 4 to Sep 1 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 8 to Mar 1 | Sep 1 to 22 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 1 to 15 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Sep 1 to 8 |
| Zucchini | Feb 12 to 26 | Mar 12 to 26 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Broccoli | Dec 14 to Jan 4 | Feb 1 to 15 | Sep 8 to Oct 6 |
| Peas | — | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Spinach | Jan 18 to 25 | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Sep 15 to Oct 20 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 29 to Apr 5 | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 13 to Dec 8 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 13 to Nov 24 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Oct 13 to 27 |
Nearby cities
- Albany, GA zone 9a, last frost Mar 10
- Tallahassee, FL zone 9a, last frost Mar 11
- Montgomery, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 13
- Columbus, GA zone 8b, last frost Mar 5
- Auburn, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 13
- Pensacola, FL zone 9a, last frost Feb 14
Planting in AlabamaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Dothan
Questions
When is the last frost in Dothan?
Around March 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Dothan Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 21.
What planting zone is Dothan in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Dothan?
Start seeds indoors January 15 to 29 and set plants out March 12 to 26; the safest date to plant out is after March 21.
When is the first frost in Dothan?
Around November 24 in a typical year, and before November 7 about 1 year in 10.