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.
- 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
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
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
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
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
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, 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
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
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 code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35080 | 8a | Alabaster Shelby Co Airport, 9.1 mi ESE | Mar 12 | Nov 16 |
| 35216 | 8b | Birmingham Airport, 10.4 mi NNE | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
| 35226 | 8b | Birmingham Airport, 4.5 mi NE | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
| 35242 | 8b | Birmingham Airport, 4.5 mi NE | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
| 35244 | 8a | Helena, 5.6 mi S | Mar 19 | Nov 8 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Hoover
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Jul 26 to Aug 2 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 5 to 19 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 9 to Sep 13 |
| Cilantro | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 19 to 26 | — |
| Basil | Feb 10 to 24 | Mar 31 to Apr 7 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 26 to Mar 5 | Jul 19 to 26 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 5 to 19 | Nov 8 to 22 |
| Onions | Nov 27 to Jan 8 | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 3 to 17 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 2 to 16 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 13 to Feb 10 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Jul 19 to Aug 16 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 26 to Mar 19 | Aug 16 to Sep 6 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Aug 16 to 23 |
| Zucchini | Mar 3 to 17 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Aug 16 to 30 |
| Broccoli | Jan 1 to 22 | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Aug 23 to Sep 20 |
| Peas | — | Feb 5 to 19 | Aug 16 to 30 |
| Spinach | Feb 5 to 12 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 30 to Oct 4 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 19 to Apr 9 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 12 to 19 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 27 to Nov 22 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 27 to Nov 8 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 5 to 19 | Sep 27 to Oct 11 |
Nearby cities
- Birmingham, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 21
- Tuscaloosa, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Montgomery, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 13
- Decatur, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 26
- Huntsville, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Madison, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
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.