Mobile, Alabama planting calendar and frost dates
Mobile is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 21 and the first fall frost around December 6, giving about 292 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- February 21
- Typical first frost
- December 6
- Frost-free season
- 292 days
Frost dates in Mobile
Last spring frost
- January 25Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 21Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 15Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 6Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- New yearLate: in about 1 year in 10, the first frost waits until after December 31
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 292 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 2 and returns around December 30.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 miles SSW 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 Mobile
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, cauliflower, 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
February
Start indoors: 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, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
March
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, 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, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
September
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, turnips, zucchini
October
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
November
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
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
December
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
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Mobile
All 12 of Mobile's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Mobile Dwtn Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36582 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36602 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36603 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36605 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36606 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36608 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36609 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36617 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36618 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36619 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36693 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| 36695 | 9a | Mobile Dwtn Airport, 4.9 mi SSW | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Mobile
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 10 to 24 | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 23 to 30 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 10 to 24 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | Feb 14 to 28 | Sep 6 to Oct 11 |
| Cilantro | Jan 10 to 24 | Feb 21 to 28 | — |
| Basil | Jan 17 to 31 | Mar 7 to 14 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 31 to Feb 7 | Aug 16 to 23 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 10 to 24 | Dec 6 to 20 |
| Onions | Nov 1 to Dec 13 | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 7 to 21 | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 6 to 20 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 7 to 21 | Mar 7 to 21 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 20 to Jan 17 | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 16 to Sep 13 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 31 to Feb 21 | Sep 13 to Oct 4 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 1 to 8 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Mar 7 to 21 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 30 to Sep 13 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 13 to 20 |
| Zucchini | Feb 7 to 21 | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 13 to 27 |
| Broccoli | Dec 6 to 27 | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Sep 20 to Oct 18 |
| Peas | — | Jan 10 to 24 | Sep 13 to 27 |
| Spinach | Jan 10 to 17 | Feb 14 to 28 | Sep 27 to Nov 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 21 to Mar 14 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 25 to Dec 20 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 25 to Dec 6 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 10 to 24 | Oct 25 to Nov 8 |
Nearby cities
- Pensacola, FL zone 9a, last frost Feb 14
- Gulfport, MS zone 9a, last frost Feb 23
- New Orleans, LA zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Kenner, LA zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Montgomery, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 13
- Dothan, AL zone 9a, last frost Mar 1
Planting in AlabamaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Mobile
Questions
When is the last frost in Mobile?
Around February 21 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Mobile Dwtn Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 15.
What planting zone is Mobile 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 Mobile?
Start seeds indoors January 10 to 24 and set plants out March 7 to 21; the safest date to plant out is after March 15.
When is the first frost in Mobile?
Around December 6 in a typical year, and before November 15 about 1 year in 10.