Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 35046 (Chilton County, AL)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Clanton 2 NE, AL (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)237 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Clanton 2 NE, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 75°, Fri 74°, Sat 69°.
4-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Clanton 2 NE, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 75°, Fri 74°, Sat 70°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 35046 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 70°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 7 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 10: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 28 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 22 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 30 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 10 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 4 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 22 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 5 | Nov 23 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 35046
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 22) and first fall frost (Nov 10). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 11–25 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 11–25 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 1–22 (transplant) Feb 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 6 (transplant) Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 22 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 11–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 11–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 11–25 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 8–22 | Mar 8–29 (transplant) Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 15–Mar 29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 12–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 29–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 8–22 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 11–25 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Sep 1–29 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Clanton 2 NE, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00063891), elevation 584 ft, 6.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thorsby EXP STN, AL | 8 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
| Clanton, AL | 8 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 10 |
| Rockford 3 ESE, AL | 21 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 35046
When is the last frost in 35046?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 35046 is March 22. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 35046?
The average first fall freeze is November 10. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 30.
What hardiness zone is 35046?
ZIP 35046 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 35046 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
35045 Clanton 35183 Stewartville 35143 Shelby 36091 35085 Jemison 35171 Thorsby 35136 Rockford 36051 Marbury
Other ZIP codes in Chilton County
35045 35085 35171 36091 36750 36758 36790 All Chilton County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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