Frost dates for ZIP 36080 (Elmore 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, Rockford 3 ESE, AL (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)230 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 36080
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 36080, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Clanton 2 NE (21 mi), Morris Farms (30 mi), Broad Acres (32 mi).
4-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Clanton 2 NE (21 mi), Morris Farms (30 mi), Broad Acres (32 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 36080 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 70°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 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 11: 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 4 |
| 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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 11 |
| 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) | Apr 7 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 25 | Nov 11 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 11 | Nov 24 |
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 36080
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 25) and first fall frost (Nov 11). 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 15–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 14–28 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 14–28 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (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 16–Oct 7 (transplant) Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 25 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (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 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (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 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (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) | Sep 2–30 (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: Rockford 3 ESE, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00017020), elevation 600 ft, 12.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clanton, AL | 20 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 10 |
| Clanton 2 NE, AL | 21 mi | Mar 22 | Nov 10 |
| Alexander City, AL | 25 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36080
When is the last frost in 36080?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36080 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 36080?
The average first fall freeze is November 11. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 28.
What hardiness zone is 36080?
ZIP 36080 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 36080 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
36092 Wetumpka 36022 Pine Level 36026 Equality 36051 Marbury 35136 Rockford 36025 Elmore 36091 36024 Eclectic
Other ZIP codes in Elmore County
36020 36022 36024 36025 36054 36078 36092 36093 All Elmore 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.
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.