Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36046 (Crenshaw 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, Highland Home 2 S, AL (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)265 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Highland Home 2 S, 5 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 75°, Fri 75°, Sat 70°.
4-inch depth
71°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Highland Home 2 S, 5 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 74°, Fri 75°, Sat 71°.
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 36046 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 71°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 Apr 19 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
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 1–22
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 1–22
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 1–29
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 26: 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 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 25 |
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) | Nov 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 22 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 19 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 4 | Nov 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 17 | Dec 10 |
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 36046
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 4) and first fall frost (Nov 26). 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 7–21 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 7–21 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 7–21 | Feb 11–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 4–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–22 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 21–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 18–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 28–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 10–24 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 4–11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 4–11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 10–24 | Mar 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (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: Highland Home 2 S, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00073802), elevation 614 ft, 4.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Home #2, AL | 4 mi | Mar 12 | Nov 18 |
| Highland Home, AL | 9 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 5 |
| Greenville Crenshaw AP, AL | 15 mi | Mar 8 | Nov 20 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 27 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36046
When is the last frost in 36046?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36046 is March 4. For a more cautious planting date, use March 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36046?
The average first fall freeze is November 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 7.
What hardiness zone is 36046?
ZIP 36046 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 36046 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
36041 36042 36032 Fort Deposit 36047 36036 36049 Luverne 36069 36071
Other ZIP codes in Crenshaw County
36009 36041 36042 36049 36071 All Crenshaw County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.