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Frost dates and planting calendar for Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
8b[1]
Median last spring frost
Mar 12[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 15[3]
Growing season, median
250 days[4]

The center of Tuscaloosa is in USDA hardiness zone 8b[1]. The median last spring frost is March 12, which means a last frost after that date in half of years[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Feb 22, half of years Mar 12, 1 in 10 years after Apr 2Last frostmedian Mar 12First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Dec 4, half of years Nov 15, 1 in 10 years before Nov 2First frostmedian Nov 15Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Feb 12 to Feb 26Feb 12 to Feb 26Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Feb 26 to Mar 12Feb 26 to Mar 12TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 12around Mar 12Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Mar 26from Mar 26
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Tuscaloosa Acfd weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after February 22, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 2[2]. In the fall, the median first frost is November 15, and in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 2[3]. These are chances from past records and not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after February 22 after March 12 after April 2
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 2 before November 15 before December 4
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date February 28, median first fall date December 1[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 223 days in 9 of 10 years, 250 days in half of years and 276 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Tuscaloosa Acfd (USC00018380), 5.3 miles from the city center, 169 feet, 25 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so GardenFacts applies its rules to Tuscaloosa dates with simple arithmetic[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which works out to February 12 to February 26[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost, from February 26[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be sown from seed around March 12[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically start 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so the earliest start is March 26[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (March 12) is February 12 to February 26[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 12) is February 26, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 12[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 12), is March 26[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Feb 12 Apr 18 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Feb 12 May 8 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Feb 12 Apr 3
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Feb 12 Apr 13
Onions (hardy)[12] Feb 12 Jun 2
Peas (hardy)[12] Feb 12 Apr 18
Radishes (hardy)[12] Feb 12 Mar 14
Spinach (hardy)[12] Feb 12 Mar 24
Turnips (hardy)[12] Feb 12 Apr 3
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 26 Apr 27
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 26 May 7
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 26 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 26 May 7
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 26 Jul 1
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 26 Apr 27
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 12 May 11
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 12 May 11
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 12 May 6
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 12 May 1
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Mar 26 Jun 19
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Mar 26 May 25 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Mar 26 Jun 4 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Mar 26 May 30 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Mar 26 Jul 4
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Mar 26 Jun 19
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 8b means the average coldest night of the year is 15°F to 20°F, based on 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is about winter lows. It is not about summer heat or frost dates[14]. Tuscaloosa spans two zones. By land area, 70% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b and 30% in areas rated zone 8a[15].

Zone 8b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 15°F to 20°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 15.7°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8b 70%, zone 8a 30%[15].

All towns in zone 8b and what zone 8b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
35406[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
35401[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
35405[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
35404[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
35453[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
35475[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
35476[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
35490[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
35473[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
35487[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
35452[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
35444[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
35456[15] 8b 15 to 20°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Tuscaloosa?
The center of Tuscaloosa is in USDA zone 8b[1]. About 30% of the city by land area is in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a[15].
When is the last frost in Tuscaloosa?
The median last spring frost is March 12, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 2[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Tuscaloosa?
CSU Extension says very tender vegetables like tomatoes typically start 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. Using the median last frost, the earliest start is March 26[11].
When is the first frost in Tuscaloosa?
The median first fall frost is November 15, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before November 2[3].
How long is the growing season in Tuscaloosa?
The growing season is at least 250 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 223 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Tuscaloosa, Alabama in zone 8b. Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 15°F to 20°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 15.7°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after February 22, in half of years after March 12, and in 1 of 10 years after April 2 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 12. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 2, in half of years before November 15, and in 9 of 10 years before December 4 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 15. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 223 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 250 days in half of years, and at least 276 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Tuscaloosa Acfd weather station (USC00018380), 5.3 miles from the center of Tuscaloosa at 169 feet, using 25 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is February 28 and the median first fall date is December 1. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Tuscaloosa, Alabama overlaps 13 ZIP code areas. By land area, 70% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b, 30% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.