Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 35603 (Decatur, 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, Decatur 4SE, AL (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)228 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 35603 (Decatur)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 35603, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Stanley Farm (17 mi), Cullman-NAHRC (25 mi), AAMU-JTG (29 mi).
4-inch depth
65°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 63°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Stanley Farm (17 mi), Cullman-NAHRC (25 mi), AAMU-JTG (29 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 35603 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 65°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 May 11 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 7: 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) | Mar 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
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 26 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 26 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 5 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 26 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 12 | Nov 19 |
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 35603
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 7). 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 29–Feb 12 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 15–29 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 15–29 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 5–26 (transplant) Feb 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (transplant) Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 26 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 1–15 | Apr 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 12–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (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: Decatur 4SE, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00012209), elevation 550 ft, 3.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur Pryor Fld, AL | 8 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 3 |
| Belle Mina 2 N, AL | 12 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 1 |
| Huntsville Intl AP, AL | 13 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 7 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 35603
When is the last frost in 35603?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 35603 is March 26. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 35603?
The average first fall freeze is November 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 26.
What hardiness zone is 35603?
ZIP 35603 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 35603 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
35601 Decatur 35640 Hartselle 35649 Mooresville 35671 Decatur 35673 Trinity 35615 35756 Huntsville 35622 Falkville
Other ZIP codes in Morgan County
35601 35621 35622 35640 35670 35754 35775 All Morgan County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.