Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 35646 (Leighton, 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, Muscle Shoals Rgnl AP, AL (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)233 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
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 62°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Muscle Shoals 2 N, 9 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 74°, Fri 69°, Sat 63°.
4-inch depth
65°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 64°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Muscle Shoals 2 N, 9 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 74°, Fri 71°, Sat 65°.
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 35646 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 65°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 May 5 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 8: 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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 6 |
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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 8 |
| 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 2 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 20 | Nov 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 6 | Nov 20 |
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 35646
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 20) and first fall frost (Nov 8). 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 23–Feb 6 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 9–23 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 9–23 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 27–Mar 20 (transplant) Feb 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 20–Mar 20 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 9–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 9–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–27 (transplant) Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 13–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 20–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 20–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 20–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 20–27 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 20–27 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Mar 27–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 6–20 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (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: Muscle Shoals Rgnl AP, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013896), elevation 540 ft, 5.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Shoals WTP, AL | 8 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 3 |
| Muscle Shoals 2 N, AL | 9 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 3 |
| Courtland 2 WSW, AL | 11 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 3 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 35646
When is the last frost in 35646?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 35646 is March 20. For a more cautious planting date, use April 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 35646?
The average first fall freeze is November 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 25.
What hardiness zone is 35646?
ZIP 35646 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 35646 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
35661 Muscle Shoals 35672 Town Creek 35660 Sheffield 35632 Florence 35630 Florence 35674 Tuscumbia 35618 Courtland 35654 Littleville
Other ZIP codes in Colbert County
35616 35660 35661 35674 All Colbert County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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