When to plant in Birmingham, AL
USDA Zone 8aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Birmingham, Alabama — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 8a, Birmingham supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
The average last spring frost in Birmingham is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BIRMINGHAM AP · 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 Birmingham’s own odds, recorded at BIRMINGHAM AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 20 | Apr 3 | Mar 16 | Oct 21 | Nov 2 | Nov 17 |
| 32°F | Apr 8 | Mar 21 | Feb 28 | Oct 30 | Nov 11 | Dec 1 |
| 28°F | Mar 26 | Mar 7 | Feb 14 | Nov 6 | Nov 24 | Dec 15 |
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 Birmingham, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Birmingham planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Birmingham, AL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Birmingham around March 21 (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 Birmingham, AL?
Expect Birmingham's first fall frost near November 11 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Birmingham in?
Birmingham is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Birmingham?
Birmingham has about 235 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 21) and first fall frost (November 11).
When should I plant tomatoes in Birmingham?
For Birmingham, sow tomatoes indoors about January 24–February 7 and move the seedlings out around March 28, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Birmingham
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Birmingham’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Mountain Brook · 7 km
- Homewood · 8 km
- Vestavia Hills · 9 km
- Irondale · 13 km
- Gardendale · 16 km
- Center Point · 17 km
- Hoover · 17 km
- Leeds · 21 km
Frost dates recorded at BIRMINGHAM AP, 6 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 Birmingham, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013876. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/birmingham.