Birmingham, AL Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Birmingham garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 21
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 11
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
235 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
8a
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Feb 28 Mar 21 Apr 8
First fall frost Dec 1 Nov 11 Oct 30
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 7 · first Nov 24

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Birmingham Airport station (7 km from central Birmingham). "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Birmingham

Computed from Birmingham's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-8 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Jan 24 – Feb 7 Mar 28 – Apr 4
🫑 Peppers Jan 10 – Jan 24 Apr 4 – Apr 11
🥬 Lettuce Feb 7 – Feb 21 Feb 21 – Mar 7 Feb 21 – Mar 21
🫛 Peas Feb 7 – Feb 21
🥕 Carrots Feb 28 – Mar 21
🥦 Broccoli Jan 31 – Feb 14 Feb 28 – Mar 14
🥬 Kale Feb 7 – Feb 21 Feb 21 – Mar 7 Feb 21 – Mar 7
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 21 – Feb 28 Mar 28 – Apr 4 Mar 28 – Apr 4
🥒 Zucchini Feb 21 – Feb 28 Mar 28 – Apr 4 Mar 28 – Apr 4
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 28 – Apr 4
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 28 – Apr 4
🌿 Basil Feb 7 – Feb 21 Mar 28 – Apr 4 Apr 4 – Apr 11
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 30 – Oct 28

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Birmingham's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Birmingham

With roughly 235 frost-free days, Birmingham gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 11 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Birmingham, AL?

The average last spring frost in Birmingham is around Mar 21, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Birmingham, AL?

The average first fall frost in Birmingham arrives around Nov 11. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Birmingham?

About 235 frost-free days on average, from Mar 21 to Nov 11. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Birmingham in?

USDA zone 8a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.