When to plant in Fairhope, AL
USDA Zone 9aFairhope, Alabama frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With about 252 frost-free days, Fairhope supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for Fairhope — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average first fall frost in Fairhope is now 15 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
FAIRHOPE 2 NE · 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 Fairhope’s own odds, recorded at FAIRHOPE 2 NE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 13 | Mar 28 | Mar 5 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 | Nov 22 |
| 32°F | Mar 30 | Mar 10 | Feb 20 | Nov 2 | Nov 17 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F | Mar 16 | Feb 26 | Jan 31 | Nov 11 | Dec 1 | Jan 1 |
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 Fairhope, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 18 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.
Fairhope planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fairhope, AL?
On average, the last spring frost in Fairhope is around March 10 (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 Fairhope, AL?
Expect Fairhope'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 Fairhope in?
Fairhope is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Fairhope?
Fairhope has about 252 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 10) and first fall frost (November 17).
When should I plant tomatoes in Fairhope?
For Fairhope, sow tomatoes indoors about January 13–January 27 and move the seedlings out around March 17, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Fairhope
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fairhope’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Daphne · 11 km
- Spanish Fort · 23 km
- Foley · 24 km
- Mobile · 27 km
- Gulf Shores · 32 km
- Tillmans Corner · 33 km
- Prichard · 37 km
- Saraland · 43 km
Frost dates recorded at FAIRHOPE 2 NE, 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 Fairhope, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00012813. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/fairhope.