Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 35461 (Macedonia, 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, Columbus, MS (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)244 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 66°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Dee River Ranch (22 mi), Starkville (33 mi), Northport 2 S (39 mi).
4-inch depth
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Dee River Ranch (22 mi), Starkville (33 mi), Northport 2 S (39 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 35461 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 69°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 28 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 12: 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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 13 |
| 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) | Oct 30 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 12 |
| 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) | Mar 30 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 13 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 26 | Nov 27 |
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 35461
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 13) and first fall frost (Nov 12). 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 16–30 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 2–16 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 2–16 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 16–30 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 16–30 | Feb 20–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 13–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (transplant) Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 30–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 16–30 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 16–30 | Feb 13–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 2–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 2–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 16–30 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 13–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 20 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 6–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 13–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 13–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 13–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 13–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 13–20 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 13–20 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Mar 20–27 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (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: Columbus, MS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00221880), elevation 145 ft, 10.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aliceville, AL | 20 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 8 |
| Vernon, AL | 23 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 5 |
| Macon 3N, MS | 27 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 35461
When is the last frost in 35461?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 35461 is March 13. 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 35461?
The average first fall freeze is November 12. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 30.
What hardiness zone is 35461?
ZIP 35461 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 35461 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
39702 Columbus 35481 Reform 35447 Pickensville 35576 Millport 39766 39701 35574 Kennedy 39705 Columbus
Other ZIP codes in Pickens County
35442 35447 35466 35481 All Pickens 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.