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When to plant in Clay, AL

USDA Zone 8a

Clay, Alabama frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.

In zone 8a, Clay supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.

Station · PINSON · 7.1 km
Last spring frost
April 4
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 1
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
211 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for ClayA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Clay: last spring frost around April 4, first fall frost around November 1, about 211 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average last spring frost in Clay is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

PINSON · 1991–2020

The 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 Clay’s own odds, recorded at PINSON.

Frost-probability curves for ClayProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 4 and the first fall frost around November 1, giving about 211 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FApr 30Apr 16Mar 30Oct 13Oct 25Nov 5
32°FApr 22Apr 4Mar 16Oct 21Nov 1Nov 15
28°FApr 10Mar 22Feb 27Oct 29Nov 11Dec 1

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Brussels Sprouts
July 12July 26
Fall sowin 7 days
Rutabaga
July 26August 9
Fall sowin 21 days
Broccoli
August 9August 23
Fall sowin 21 days
Cabbage
August 9August 23
Fall sowin 21 days
Carrot
August 9August 23
Fall sowin 21 days
Cauliflower
August 9August 23
Fall sowin 21 days
Napa Cabbage
August 9September 6

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Clay, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 31 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

PINSON
Primary
7 km · 185 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 4
FALL
Nov 1
BIRMINGHAM AP
19 km · 188 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 21
FALL
Nov 11
ONEONTA
31 km · 335 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 26
FALL
Nov 10

Clay planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Clay, AL?

Clay's average last spring frost falls near April 4 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.

When is the first fall frost in Clay, AL?

The first fall frost in Clay typically arrives around November 1 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Clay in?

Clay is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Clay?

Clay has about 211 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 4) and first fall frost (November 1).

When should I plant tomatoes in Clay?

For Clay, sow tomatoes indoors about February 7–February 21 and move the seedlings out around April 11, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Clay

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Clay’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at PINSON, 7 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Clay, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00016478. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/clay.
When to Plant in Clay, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8a — BlissGarden