Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 35040 (Calera, 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, Alabaster Shelby Co AP, AL (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)248 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 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Clanton 2 NE (19 mi), Selma (49 mi), Talladega 10 NNE (50 mi).
4-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Clanton 2 NE (19 mi), Selma (49 mi), Talladega 10 NNE (50 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 35040 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 70°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 27 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 21–Oct 19
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 16: 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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 12 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 31 |
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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 16 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 27 | Nov 4 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 12 | Nov 16 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 27 | 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 35040
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 12) and first fall frost (Nov 16). 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 15–29 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 1–15 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 1–15 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 15–29 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 15–29 | Feb 19–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (transplant) Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 5–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 12–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 12–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Mar 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (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: Alabaster Shelby Co AP, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00053864), elevation 565 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%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thorsby EXP STN, AL | 13 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
| Helena, AL | 13 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 8 |
| Clanton 2 NE, AL | 19 mi | Mar 22 | Nov 10 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 35040
When is the last frost in 35040?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 35040 is March 12. For a more cautious planting date, use March 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 35040?
The average first fall freeze is November 16. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 1.
What hardiness zone is 35040?
ZIP 35040 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 35040 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
35085 Jemison 35007 Alabaster 35115 Pea Ridge 35143 Shelby 35051 Columbiana 35114 Alabaster 35035 35080 Helena
Other ZIP codes in Shelby County
35007 35043 35051 35078 35080 35114 35115 35124 35143 35147 35176 35178 35185 35186 35242 35244 All Shelby County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- 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.