Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 35961 (Collinsville, 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, Gadsden 19 N, AL (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)212 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
62°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Hodges (21 mi), Valley Head 1 SSW (22 mi), Stanley Farm (49 mi).
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 61°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Valley Head 1 SSW (22 mi), Stanley Farm (49 mi), Talladega 10 NNE (52 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 35961 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°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 17 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
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 31: 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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 20 |
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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 31 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 14 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 15 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 1 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 17 | Nov 9 |
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 35961
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Oct 31). 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 | Feb 4–18 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 4–18 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 4–18 | Mar 11–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 4–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (transplant) Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 7–21 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 4–11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 4–11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 4–11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 4–11 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 4–11 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 7–21 | Apr 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (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: Gadsden 19 N, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00063857), elevation 1,152 ft, 6.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Mt Substn, AL | 7 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 3 |
| Ft Payne, AL | 12 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
| Centre, AL | 14 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 35961
When is the last frost in 35961?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 35961 is April 1. For a more cautious planting date, use April 20, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 35961?
The average first fall freeze is October 31. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 19.
What hardiness zone is 35961?
ZIP 35961 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 35961 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
35963 35983 Leesburg 35974 Geraldine 35967 Fort Payne 35962 Crossville 35971 Fyffe 35968 Fort Payne 35986 Rainsville
Other ZIP codes in DeKalb County
35962 35963 35967 35968 35971 35974 35975 35978 35979 35981 35984 35986 35988 35989 All DeKalb County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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