When to plant in Fort Payne, AL
USDA Zone 7bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Fort Payne, Alabama — all computed from Fort Payne's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 7b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Fort Payne, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
FT PAYNE · 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 Fort Payne’s own odds, recorded at FT PAYNE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 26 | Apr 10 | Mar 24 | Oct 19 | Oct 31 | Nov 13 |
| 32°F | Apr 16 | Mar 29 | Mar 7 | Oct 26 | Nov 8 | Nov 29 |
| 28°F | Apr 5 | Mar 14 | Feb 18 | Nov 4 | Nov 20 | 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 Fort Payne, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 15 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.
Fort Payne planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fort Payne, AL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Fort Payne around March 29 (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 Fort Payne, AL?
Expect Fort Payne'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 Fort Payne in?
Fort Payne is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. In zone 7b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Fort Payne?
There are roughly 224 frost-free days in Fort Payne (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 29 to the first fall frost near November 8.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fort Payne?
In Fort Payne, start tomato seeds indoors around February 1–February 15, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 5 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Fort Payne
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fort Payne’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Scottsboro · 39 km
- Rome · 51 km
- Boaz · 52 km
- Albertville · 52 km
- Gadsden · 58 km
- Cedartown · 63 km
- Fort Oglethorpe · 67 km
- Rainbow City · 69 km
Frost dates recorded at FT PAYNE, 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 Fort Payne, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00013043. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/fort-payne.