Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36511 (Bon Secour, 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, Robertsdale, AL (18 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)264 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 36511 (Bon Secour)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 36511, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
68°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 Koptis Farms, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 78°, Fri 77°, Sat 68°.
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Perdido Riv Farms (57 mi), Tnc Fort Bayou (61 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 36511 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 72°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 Apr 20 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
- Lettuce: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 19
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 28–Oct 19
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 28–Oct 26
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 23: 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 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 5 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 26 |
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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 23 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 15 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 21 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 5 | Nov 23 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 21 | Dec 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 36511
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 5) and first fall frost (Nov 23). 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 8–22 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 8–22 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 8–22 | Feb 12–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 5–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 19 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 22–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 11–25 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 29–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 11–25 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 11–25 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 3–17 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 5–12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 5–12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 11–25 | Mar 12–19 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (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: Robertsdale, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00016988), elevation 161 ft, 18.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairhope 3 NE, AL | 19 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 19 |
| Fairhope 2 NE, AL | 19 mi | Mar 10 | Nov 17 |
| Dauphin Is #2, AL | 20 mi | Jan 31 | Jan 6 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 46 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36511
When is the last frost in 36511?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36511 is March 5. For a more cautious planting date, use March 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36511?
The average first fall freeze is November 23. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 5.
What hardiness zone is 36511?
ZIP 36511 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 36511 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
36542 Gulf Shores 36535 Foley 36547 Gulf Shores 36555 Magnolia Springs 36561 Orange Beach 36580 Summerdale 36530 Elberta 36532 Fairhope
Other ZIP codes in Baldwin County
36507 36526 36527 36530 36532 36535 36542 36547 36549 36550 36551 36555 36559 36561 36562 36564 36567 36574 36576 36578 36579 36580 All Baldwin 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.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.