Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Clay, AL
Plan your garden around Clay, AL's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
April 4
Safe Apr 22
Typical Apr 4
Risky Mar 16
First Fall Frost
November 1
Safe Oct 21
Typical Nov 1
Risky Nov 15
Growing Season
212 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 8a
Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.
Data: NOAA station PINSON, AL US, 8 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | — | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | Apr 18 – Apr 25 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | Mar 14 – Mar 21 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | — | Apr 18 – Apr 25 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | — | Apr 18 – Apr 25 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Apr 4 – Apr 18 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | Apr 4 – Apr 18 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | — | Sep 6 – Sep 20 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | — | Sep 6 – Sep 20 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | — | Aug 23 – Sep 6 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | — | Sep 20 – Sep 27 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | Mar 14 – Mar 21 | Aug 30 – Sep 6 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | Aug 23 – Aug 30 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | — | Aug 9 – Aug 23 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | — | Aug 23 – Sep 6 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | — | Sep 20 – Oct 4 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | — | Aug 23 – Sep 6 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Oct 4 – Oct 18 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Apr 18 – May 2 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | — | Sep 6 – Sep 20 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | — | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | — | Apr 4 – Apr 11 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | — | Apr 4 – Apr 11 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | — | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Clay, AL?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the PINSON, AL US station, the last spring frost in Clay typically falls around April 4. A cautious gardener might wait until April 22 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while March 16 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Clay, AL in fall?
The first fall frost in Clay typically arrives around November 1. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 21; in milder years it can hold off until November 15.
How long is the growing season in Clay, AL?
Clay's average frost-free growing season is about 212 days, running from the typical last spring frost (April 4) to the typical first fall frost (November 1).
What USDA hardiness zone is Clay, AL in?
Clay, AL is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.