Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36206 (Saks, 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, Anniston Metro AP, AL (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)231 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
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Talladega 10 NNE (18 mi), Wedowee (33 mi), Hodges (53 mi).
4-inch depth
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Talladega 10 NNE (18 mi), Wedowee (33 mi), Valley Head 1 SSW (59 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 36206 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 67°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 8 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 9: 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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 23 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
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 27 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 25 |
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 31 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 8 | 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 36206
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 9). 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 26–Feb 9 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 12–26 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 12–26 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 2–23 (transplant) Feb 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 23 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 12–26 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 12–26 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 9–23 | Mar 9–30 (transplant) Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 16–Mar 30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 30–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 9–23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (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: Anniston Metro AP, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013871), elevation 594 ft, 10.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heflin, AL | 13 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| Talladega 10 NNE, AL | 18 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 4 |
| Gadsden, AL | 22 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 18 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36206
When is the last frost in 36206?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36206 is March 23. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36206?
The average first fall freeze is November 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 27.
What hardiness zone is 36206?
ZIP 36206 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 36206 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
36277 Weaver 36205 Anniston 36250 Alexandria 36201 Anniston 36207 White Plains 36265 Jacksonville 36203 Oxford 36279
Other ZIP codes in Calhoun County
36201 36203 36205 36207 36250 36265 36271 36277 36279 All Calhoun County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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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.