Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 36559 (Fairhope, 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, Fairhope 2 NE, AL (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)253 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
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, 13 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 (43 mi), Tnc Fort Bayou (50 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 36559 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 25 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 22–Oct 20
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 6–Nov 3
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 6–Nov 3
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 17: 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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 10 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 30 |
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 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 17 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 6 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 28 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 10 | Nov 17 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 26 | Dec 1 |
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 36559
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 10) and first fall frost (Nov 17). 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 13–27 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 13–27 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 13–27 | Feb 17–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 13 (transplant) Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 27–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 16–30 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 17 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 3–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 16–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 16–30 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 6–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Oct 6–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 10–17 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 10–17 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 16–30 | Mar 17–24 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (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: Fairhope 2 NE, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00012813), elevation 23 ft, 2.1 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 | 2 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 19 |
| Mobile Dwtn AP, AL | 11 mi | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| Robertsdale, AL | 12 mi | Mar 5 | Nov 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 25 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36559
When is the last frost in 36559?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36559 is March 10. For a more cautious planting date, use March 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36559?
The average first fall freeze is November 17. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 36559?
ZIP 36559 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 36559 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
36526 Daphne 36532 Fairhope 36564 Point Clear 36576 Silverhill 36527 Spanish Fort 36551 Loxley 36615 Mobile 36605 Mobile
Other ZIP codes in Baldwin County
36507 36511 36526 36527 36530 36532 36535 36542 36547 36549 36550 36551 36555 36561 36562 36564 36567 36574 36576 36578 36579 36580 All Baldwin 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.