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Hoover, Alabama planting calendar and frost dates

Hoover is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 19 and the first fall frost around November 8, giving about 236 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 8a (parts in 8b)
Typical last frost
March 19
Typical first frost
November 8
Frost-free season
236 days

Frost dates in Hoover

Last spring frost

  • February 26Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • March 19Typical: 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 8Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 29Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 236 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 4 and returns around November 22.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Helena, 5.6 miles S 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 Hoover

  1. January

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons

  2. February

    Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  3. March

    Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, 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, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, zucchini

  4. April

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. July

    Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes, tomatoes

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. November

    Start indoors: onions

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  11. December

    Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Hoover

Hoover's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 3 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 12 in 35080 to March 21 in 35242. The hardiness zone is 8a in 35080, 35244, and 8b in 35216, 35226, 35242.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
350808aAlabaster Shelby Co Airport, 9.1 mi ESEMar 12Nov 16
352168bBirmingham Airport, 10.4 mi NNEMar 21Nov 11
352268bBirmingham Airport, 4.5 mi NEMar 21Nov 11
352428bBirmingham Airport, 4.5 mi NEMar 21Nov 11
352448aHelena, 5.6 mi SMar 19Nov 8

Planting dates for popular crops in Hoover

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesFeb 3 to 17Mar 31 to Apr 14Jul 26 to Aug 2
Strawberries—Feb 5 to 19—
LettuceJan 22 to Feb 5Mar 12 to 26Aug 9 to Sep 13
CilantroFeb 5 to 19Mar 19 to 26—
BasilFeb 10 to 24Mar 31 to Apr 7—
Potatoes—Feb 26 to Mar 5Jul 19 to 26
Garlic—Feb 5 to 19Nov 8 to 22
OnionsNov 27 to Jan 8Feb 19 to Mar 5—
CucumbersMar 3 to 17Mar 31 to Apr 14Aug 9 to 23
PumpkinsMar 5 to 19Apr 2 to 16—
PeppersJan 13 to Feb 10Mar 31 to Apr 14Jul 19 to Aug 16
Carrots—Feb 26 to Mar 19Aug 16 to Sep 6
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 22 to 29—
WatermelonsFeb 24 to Mar 10Mar 31 to Apr 14—
Sweet Corn—Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 2 to 16
Green Beans—Mar 31 to Apr 14Aug 16 to 23
ZucchiniMar 3 to 17Mar 31 to Apr 14Aug 16 to 30
BroccoliJan 1 to 22Feb 19 to Mar 5Aug 23 to Sep 20
Peas—Feb 5 to 19Aug 16 to 30
SpinachFeb 5 to 12Mar 12 to 26Aug 30 to Oct 4
Sunflowers—Mar 19 to Apr 9—
ZinniasApr 12 to 19May 10 to 24—
Tulips——Sep 27 to Nov 22
Daffodils——Sep 27 to Nov 8
Grass Seed—Feb 5 to 19Sep 27 to Oct 11

Nearby cities

Planting in AlabamaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Hoover

Questions

When is the last frost in Hoover?

Around March 19 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Helena. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 9.

What planting zone is Hoover in?

USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Hoover?

Start seeds indoors February 3 to 17 and set plants out March 31 to April 14; the safest date to plant out is after April 9.

When is the first frost in Hoover?

Around November 8 in a typical year, and before October 26 about 1 year in 10.