Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36703 (Valley Grande, 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, Selma, AL (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)254 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
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 64°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Selma, 2 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 72°, Fri 72°, Sat 68°.
4-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Selma, 2 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 72°, Fri 73°, 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 36703 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 Apr 23 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 23–Oct 21
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 18: 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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 28 |
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 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 8 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 25 | Nov 7 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 8 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 24 | Dec 1 |
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 36703
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 8) and first fall frost (Nov 18). 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 11–25 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 11–25 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 11–25 | Feb 15–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 8–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 14–28 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 1–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 14–28 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 14–28 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 8–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 8–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 8–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 8–15 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 8–15 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 14–28 | Mar 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (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: Selma, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00017366), elevation 147 ft, 6.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selma 6 SSE, AL | 7 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 7 |
| Marion Junction 2 NE, AL | 19 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 9 |
| Selma 13 WNW, AL | 19 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36703
When is the last frost in 36703?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36703 is March 8. For a more cautious planting date, use March 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36703?
The average first fall freeze is November 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 36703?
ZIP 36703 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 36703 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
36749 36701 Valley Grande 36003 Autaugaville 36785 Benton 36758 36775 36006 Billingsley 36752 Lowndesboro
Other ZIP codes in Dallas County
36701 36759 36761 36767 36773 36775 All Dallas 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.