In Birmingham, AL, the average last spring frost is Mar 21 and the average first fall frost is Nov 11, which leaves about 236 frost-free days for the garden. These dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Birmingham Airport, AL weather station, at 615 feet above sea level.
A long season lets you do more than one planting: a spring crop, a second planting of quick crops in summer, and a fall garden. Succession planting works well here. Frost timing varies from year to year: in about 1 spring in 10 the last frost falls as late as Apr 8, and in about 1 fall in 10 the first frost arrives as early as Oct 30.
Frost dates for Birmingham, AL
| Chance of a freeze (32°F) after or before this date | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Freeze-free season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimistic (about 1 year in 10) | Feb 28 | Dec 1 | 276 days |
| Average (half of years) | Mar 21 | Nov 11 | 236 days |
| Cautious (9 years in 10 are safe) | Apr 8 | Oct 30 | 205 days |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020. Use the cautious dates for tender crops such as tomatoes and peppers.
When to plant in Birmingham, AL
These windows count weeks forward and back from the average frost dates above. They are planning guides: check the forecast before planting tender crops, and see our what to plant now tool for today's date.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors in spring | Plant in fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 10 to Jan 24 | Apr 4 to Apr 11 | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 10 to Jan 24 | Apr 4 to Apr 11 | – |
| Onions | Jan 10 to Jan 24 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | – |
| Parsley | Jan 10 to Jan 24 | Mar 21 to Mar 28 | – |
| Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to Mar 14 | Aug 19 to Sep 16 |
| Basil | Feb 7 to Feb 7 | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | – |
| Peas | Sow outdoors | Feb 7 to Feb 21 | Aug 19 to Sep 16 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors | Feb 7 to Feb 21 | Sep 16 to Oct 14 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors | Feb 7 to Feb 21 | Sep 16 to Oct 14 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Sep 16 to Oct 14 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 19 to Sep 16 |
| Beets | Sow outdoors | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 19 to Sep 16 |
| Potatoes | Sow outdoors | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | – |
| Kale | Sow outdoors | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 19 to Sep 16 |
| Swiss chard | Sow outdoors | Mar 7 to Mar 21 | – |
| Cilantro | Sow outdoors | Mar 7 to Mar 21 | Sep 16 to Oct 14 |
| Dill | Sow outdoors | Mar 21 to Mar 28 | – |
| Bush beans | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | Aug 8 to Aug 22 |
| Pole beans | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | – |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | – |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Zucchini and summer squash | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | Aug 8 to Aug 22 |
| Winter squash | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | – |
| Sweet potatoes (slips) | Sow outdoors | Apr 4 to Apr 18 | – |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | Apr 4 to Apr 18 | – |
A dash in the fall column means the crop is not usually planted in fall, or the season is too short.
Overnight lows this week
The National Weather Service forecast shows frost risk on: Sun 15 night (36°F), Mon 16 night (35°F), Tue 17 night (36°F). Cover tender plants before dark on those nights.
| Night | Forecast low | Frost risk |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 15 night | 36°F | Frost possible |
| Mon 16 night | 35°F | Frost possible |
| Tue 17 night | 36°F | Frost possible |
| Wed 18 night | 41°F | No frost expected |
| Thu 19 night | 43°F | No frost expected |
| Fri 20 night | 43°F | No frost expected |
| Sat 21 night | 48°F | No frost expected |
Live forecast for the station location, from the National Weather Service. For your own ZIP code, use our garden weather forecast.
More garden tools for Birmingham, AL
- Frost dates by ZIP code for your exact location
- What to plant now, based on today's date
- Garden weather forecast by ZIP code
- Safe transplant date calculator
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Birmingham, AL?
The average last spring frost is Mar 21. A late frost as far out as Apr 8 happens in about 1 year in 10, so tender plants such as tomatoes and peppers are safest after that cautious date.
When is the first frost in Birmingham, AL?
The average first fall frost is Nov 11. It can arrive as early as Oct 30 in about 1 year in 10, so plan to harvest tender crops before then.
How long is the growing season in Birmingham, AL?
The average freeze-free season is about 236 days, between the average last spring frost and the average first fall frost.
Where do these dates come from?
They come from the NOAA 1991 to 2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the Birmingham Airport, AL station. Hills, valleys, lakes and city heat can shift frost by a week or more, so compare with neighbors who garden near you.