Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36555 (Magnolia Springs, 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, Fairhope 3 NE, AL (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)251 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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 63°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Koptis Farms, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 78°, Fri 77°, Sat 68°.
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Perdido Riv Farms (51 mi), Tnc Fort Bayou (58 mi).
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 36555 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 72°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). 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 30 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 24–Oct 22
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 8–Nov 5
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 8–Nov 5
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 19: 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 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 2 |
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 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 19 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 15 | Nov 19 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 28 | Dec 3 |
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 36555
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 15) and first fall frost (Nov 19). 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 18–Feb 1 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 4–18 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 4–18 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 22–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 15 (transplant) Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–22 (transplant) Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 8–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 8–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Oct 8–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 15–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 15–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 15–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 15–22 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 15–22 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Mar 22–29 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 1–15 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (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: Fairhope 3 NE, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00063869), elevation 95 ft, 12.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairhope 2 NE, AL | 12 mi | Mar 10 | Nov 17 |
| Robertsdale, AL | 12 mi | Mar 5 | Nov 23 |
| Dauphin Is #2, AL | 21 mi | Jan 31 | Jan 6 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 46 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36555
When is the last frost in 36555?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36555 is March 15. For a more cautious planting date, use April 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36555?
The average first fall freeze is November 19. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 36555?
ZIP 36555 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 36555 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
36535 Foley 36511 Bon Secour 36580 Summerdale 36532 Fairhope 36576 Silverhill 36542 Gulf Shores 36564 Point Clear 36547 Gulf Shores
Other ZIP codes in Baldwin County
36507 36511 36526 36527 36530 36532 36535 36542 36547 36549 36550 36551 36559 36561 36562 36564 36567 36574 36576 36578 36579 36580 All Baldwin County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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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.