Frost dates for ZIP 36031 (Macon County, 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, Milstead, AL (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2550% 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)228 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 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Tuskegee, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 73°, Fri 74°.
4-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 71°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Tuskegee, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 74°, Fri 75°.
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 36031 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 73°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 10 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) | Mar 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 13 |
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 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 27 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 6 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 25 | Nov 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 10 | Nov 21 |
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 36031
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 25) 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 28–Feb 11 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 14–28 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 14–28 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 4–25 (transplant) Feb 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 25 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Apr 1–8 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 11–25 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (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: Milstead, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00015439), elevation 215 ft, 15.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Springs 9 S, AL | 16 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 6 |
| Montgomery 6SW, AL | 26 mi | Mar 4 | Nov 18 |
| Auburn NO.2, AL | 30 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 17 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36031
When is the last frost in 36031?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36031 is March 25. For a more cautious planting date, use April 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36031?
The average first fall freeze is November 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 26.
What hardiness zone is 36031?
ZIP 36031 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 36031 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
36039 36089 Union Springs 36029 Fitzpatrick 36083 Franklin 36088 Tuskegee 36013 Pike Road 36075 Shorter 36052
Other ZIP codes in Macon County
36039 36075 36083 36088 36866 All Macon County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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