When to plant in Chelsea, AL
USDA Zone 8bChelsea, Alabama frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
These dates come from a station roughly 19 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Chelsea (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Chelsea, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
HELENA · 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 Chelsea’s own odds, recorded at HELENA.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 21 | Apr 3 | Mar 15 | Oct 17 | Oct 30 | Nov 13 |
| 32°F | Apr 9 | Mar 19 | Feb 26 | Oct 26 | Nov 8 | Nov 29 |
| 28°F | Mar 25 | Mar 4 | Feb 8 | Nov 3 | Nov 22 | Dec 13 |
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 Chelsea, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 27 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.
Chelsea planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Chelsea, AL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Chelsea around March 19 (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 Chelsea, AL?
Expect Chelsea's first fall frost near November 8 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Chelsea in?
Chelsea is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Chelsea?
There are roughly 234 frost-free days in Chelsea (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 19 to the first fall frost near November 8.
When should I plant tomatoes in Chelsea?
In Chelsea, start tomato seeds indoors around January 22–February 5, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 26 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Chelsea
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Chelsea’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Pelham · 10 km
- Hoover · 18 km
- Vestavia Hills · 20 km
- Alabaster · 20 km
- Mountain Brook · 22 km
- Calera · 23 km
- Homewood · 23 km
- Helena · 24 km
Frost dates recorded at HELENA, 19 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 Chelsea, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00013781. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/chelsea.