Tuscaloosa, Alabama planting calendar and frost dates
Tuscaloosa is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 16 and the first fall frost around November 12, giving about 242 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 16
- Typical first frost
- November 12
- Frost-free season
- 242 days
Frost dates in Tuscaloosa
Last spring frost
- February 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 16Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 3Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 30Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 12Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 242 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 1 and returns around November 27.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Tuscaloosa Muni Airport, 2.7 miles W 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 Tuscaloosa
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, pumpkins, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, 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
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Tuscaloosa
All 6 of Tuscaloosa's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Tuscaloosa Muni Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8a in 35406, 35475, and 8b in 35401, 35404, 35405, 35453.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35401 | 8b | Tuscaloosa Muni Airport, 2.7 mi W | Mar 16 | Nov 12 |
| 35404 | 8b | Tuscaloosa Muni Airport, 2.7 mi W | Mar 16 | Nov 12 |
| 35405 | 8b | Tuscaloosa Muni Airport, 2.7 mi W | Mar 16 | Nov 12 |
| 35406 | 8a | Tuscaloosa Muni Airport, 2.7 mi W | Mar 16 | Nov 12 |
| 35453 | 8b | Tuscaloosa Muni Airport, 2.7 mi W | Mar 16 | Nov 12 |
| 35475 | 8a | Tuscaloosa Muni Airport, 2.7 mi W | Mar 16 | Nov 12 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Tuscaloosa
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Jul 30 to Aug 6 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 2 to 16 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 19 to Feb 2 | Mar 9 to 23 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Cilantro | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 16 to 23 | — |
| Basil | Feb 9 to 23 | Mar 30 to Apr 6 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 23 to Mar 2 | Jul 23 to 30 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 2 to 16 | Nov 12 to 26 |
| Onions | Nov 24 to Jan 5 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 2 to 16 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 2 to 16 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 12 to Feb 9 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Jul 23 to Aug 20 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 23 to Mar 16 | Aug 20 to Sep 10 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Aug 20 to 27 |
| Zucchini | Mar 2 to 16 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Aug 20 to Sep 3 |
| Broccoli | Dec 29 to Jan 19 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Peas | — | Feb 2 to 16 | Aug 20 to Sep 3 |
| Spinach | Feb 2 to 9 | Mar 9 to 23 | Sep 3 to Oct 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 16 to Apr 6 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 11 to 18 | May 9 to 23 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 1 to Nov 26 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 1 to Nov 12 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 2 to 16 | Oct 1 to 15 |
Nearby cities
- Hoover, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 19
- Birmingham, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 21
- Montgomery, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 13
- Decatur, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 26
- Madison, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Huntsville, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
Planting in AlabamaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Tuscaloosa
Questions
When is the last frost in Tuscaloosa?
Around March 16 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Tuscaloosa Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 3.
What planting zone is Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa?
Start seeds indoors February 2 to 16 and set plants out March 30 to April 13; the safest date to plant out is after April 3.
When is the first frost in Tuscaloosa?
Around November 12 in a typical year, and before October 30 about 1 year in 10.