Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Rainbow City, AL
Plan your garden around Rainbow City, AL's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
March 19
Safe Apr 7
Typical Mar 19
Risky Feb 27
First Fall Frost
November 13
Safe Nov 1
Typical Nov 13
Risky Dec 1
Growing Season
240 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 GADSDEN, AL US, 9 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 | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 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 8 – Jan 22 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | 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 8 – Jan 22 | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Feb 19 – Feb 26 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 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 | Feb 26 – Mar 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 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 | Feb 19 – Feb 26 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | — | 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 | Feb 19 – Feb 26 | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Feb 19 – Feb 26 | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | — | 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 | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Sep 18 – Oct 2 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | Sep 18 – Oct 2 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Sep 4 – Sep 18 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Oct 2 – Oct 9 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | — | Feb 26 – Mar 5 | Sep 11 – Sep 18 | 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 | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | — | Mar 5 – Mar 12 | Sep 4 – Sep 11 | 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 | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Sep 4 – Sep 18 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | 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 | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Aug 21 – Sep 4 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Sep 4 – Sep 18 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | Oct 2 – Oct 16 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Sep 4 – Sep 18 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | 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 16 – Oct 30 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | — | 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 2 – Apr 16 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | 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 5 – Feb 12 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 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 | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Sep 18 – Oct 2 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | — | Mar 5 – Mar 12 | — | 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 | — | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | — | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | — | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | — | 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 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Feb 19 – Feb 26 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 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 5 – Feb 19 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Feb 19 – Feb 26 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | 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 Rainbow City, AL?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the GADSDEN, AL US station, the last spring frost in Rainbow City typically falls around March 19. A cautious gardener might wait until April 7 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while February 27 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Rainbow City, AL in fall?
The first fall frost in Rainbow City typically arrives around November 13. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 1; in milder years it can hold off until December 1.
How long is the growing season in Rainbow City, AL?
Rainbow City's average frost-free growing season is about 240 days, running from the typical last spring frost (March 19) to the typical first fall frost (November 13).
What USDA hardiness zone is Rainbow City, AL in?
Rainbow City, 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.