Madison, Alabama planting calendar and frost dates
Madison is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 24 and the first fall frost around November 8, giving about 229 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- March 24
- Typical first frost
- November 8
- Frost-free season
- 229 days
Frost dates in Madison
Last spring frost
- March 4Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 8Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 27Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 8Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 25Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 229 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 10 and returns around November 20.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Huntsville International Airport, 12.8 miles WSW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Madison shares this station with Huntsville, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Madison
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, 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: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, 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, ginger, 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: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, 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: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Madison
All 2 of Madison's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Huntsville International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35756 | 8a | Huntsville International Airport, 12.8 mi WSW | Mar 24 | Nov 8 |
| 35758 | 8a | Huntsville International Airport, 12.8 mi WSW | Mar 24 | Nov 8 |
Huntsville International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Huntsville, so their planting calendars match Madison's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Madison
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 9 to 23 | Apr 6 to 20 | Jul 26 to Aug 2 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 10 to 24 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 9 to Sep 13 |
| Cilantro | Feb 10 to 24 | Mar 24 to 31 | — |
| Basil | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Apr 6 to 13 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 3 to 10 | Jul 19 to 26 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 10 to 24 | Nov 8 to 22 |
| Onions | Dec 2 to Jan 13 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 6 to 20 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 19 to Feb 16 | Apr 6 to 20 | Jul 19 to Aug 16 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 3 to 24 | Aug 16 to Sep 6 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 2 to 16 | Apr 6 to 20 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 6 to 20 | Aug 16 to 23 |
| Zucchini | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 6 to 20 | Aug 16 to 30 |
| Broccoli | Jan 6 to 27 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Aug 23 to Sep 20 |
| Peas | — | Feb 10 to 24 | Aug 16 to 30 |
| Spinach | Feb 10 to 17 | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 30 to Oct 4 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 24 to Apr 14 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 13 to 20 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 27 to Nov 22 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 27 to Nov 8 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 10 to 24 | Sep 27 to Oct 11 |
Nearby cities
- Huntsville, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Decatur, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 26
- Columbia, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 10
- Spring Hill, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 5
- Murfreesboro, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 9
- Birmingham, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 21
Planting in AlabamaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Madison
Questions
When is the last frost in Madison?
Around March 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Huntsville International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 8.
What planting zone is Madison 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 Madison?
Start seeds indoors February 9 to 23 and set plants out April 6 to 20; the safest date to plant out is after April 8.
When is the first frost in Madison?
Around November 8 in a typical year, and before October 27 about 1 year in 10.