Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36116 (Montgomery, 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, Montgomery 6SW, AL (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)262 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 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
65°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 63°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Broad Acres, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 70°, Fri 71°, Sat 65°.
4-inch depth
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Broad Acres, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 71°, Fri 72°, Sat 68°.
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 36116 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 67°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 Apr 19 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 18: 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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 23 |
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) | Nov 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 17 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 4 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 17 | Dec 4 |
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 36116
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 4) and first fall frost (Nov 18). 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 7–21 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 7–21 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 7–21 | Feb 11–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 4–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 21–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 18–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 28–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 10–24 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 4–11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 4–11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 10–24 | Mar 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (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: Montgomery 6SW, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00015553), elevation 225 ft, 0.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery AP, AL | 11 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 13 |
| Milstead, AL | 23 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 8 |
| Highland Home #2, AL | 23 mi | Mar 12 | Nov 18 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36116
When is the last frost in 36116?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36116 is March 4. For a more cautious planting date, use March 23, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36116?
The average first fall freeze is November 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 1.
What hardiness zone is 36116?
ZIP 36116 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 36116 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
36105 Montgomery 36111 Montgomery 36106 Montgomery 36064 Pike Road 36109 Montgomery 36117 Montgomery 36107 Montgomery 36130 Montgomery
Other ZIP codes in Montgomery County
36013 36036 36052 36057 36064 36069 36101 36104 36105 36106 36107 36108 36109 36110 36111 36112 36113 36114 36115 36117 36130 All Montgomery County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.