When to plant in Auburn, AL
USDA Zone 8bAuburn, Alabama frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Auburn enjoys a long ~249-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Auburn, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Auburn is now 8 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
AUBURN NO.2 · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Auburn’s own odds, recorded at AUBURN NO.2.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 16 | Mar 29 | Mar 8 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 | Nov 21 |
| 32°F | Apr 3 | Mar 13 | Feb 21 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 | Dec 4 |
| 28°F | Mar 19 | Feb 28 | Feb 1 | Nov 11 | Dec 1 | Dec 29 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Auburn, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 29 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Auburn planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Auburn, AL?
On average, the last spring frost in Auburn is around March 13 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Auburn, AL?
Expect Auburn's first fall frost near November 17 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Auburn in?
Auburn is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Auburn?
There are roughly 249 frost-free days in Auburn (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 13 to the first fall frost near November 17.
When should I plant tomatoes in Auburn?
In Auburn, start tomato seeds indoors around January 16–January 30, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 20 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Auburn
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Auburn’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Opelika · 12 km
- Valley · 37 km
- Phenix City · 46 km
- Alexander City · 54 km
- Columbus · 59 km
- LaGrange · 63 km
- Pike Road · 70 km
- Montgomery · 78 km
Frost dates recorded at AUBURN NO.2, 3 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Auburn, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00010425. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/auburn.