When to plant in Bessemer, AL
USDA Zone 8aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Bessemer, Alabama — all computed from Bessemer's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Bessemer, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Bessemer is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BESSEMER 3 WSW · 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 Bessemer’s own odds, recorded at BESSEMER 3 WSW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 21 | Apr 6 | Mar 21 | Oct 18 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | Mar 23 | Mar 3 | Oct 27 | Nov 10 | Nov 28 |
| 28°F | Mar 28 | Mar 9 | Feb 15 | Nov 4 | Nov 23 | Dec 12 |
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 Bessemer, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 28 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.
Bessemer planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Bessemer, AL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Bessemer around March 23 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Bessemer, AL?
In Bessemer, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 10 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Bessemer in?
Bessemer is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Bessemer?
There are roughly 232 frost-free days in Bessemer (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 23 to the first fall frost near November 10.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bessemer?
In Bessemer, start tomato seeds indoors around January 26–February 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 30 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Bessemer
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bessemer’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at BESSEMER 3 WSW, 4 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 Bessemer, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00010764. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/bessemer.