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When to plant in Gadsden, AL

USDA Zone 8a

Everything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Gadsden, Alabama — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.

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

Station · GADSDEN · 3.1 km
Last spring frost
March 19
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 13
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
239 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for GadsdenA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Gadsden: last spring frost around March 19, first fall frost around November 13, about 239 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average last spring frost in Gadsden is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

GADSDEN · 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 Gadsden’s own odds, recorded at GADSDEN.

Frost-probability curves for GadsdenProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around March 19 and the first fall frost around November 13, giving about 239 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 21Apr 1Mar 16Oct 22Nov 3Nov 18
32°FApr 7Mar 19Feb 27Nov 1Nov 13Dec 1
28°FMar 24Mar 4Feb 11Nov 9Nov 27Dec 23

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

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowin 5 days
Brussels Sprouts
July 24August 7
Fall sowin 19 days
Rutabaga
August 7August 21

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 Gadsden, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 32 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.

GADSDEN
Primary
3 km · 172 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 19
FALL
Nov 13
GADSDEN 19 N
31 km · 351 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 1
FALL
Oct 31
SAND MT SUBSTN
32 km · 363 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 31
FALL
Nov 3

Gadsden planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Gadsden, AL?

On average, the last spring frost in Gadsden is around March 19 (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 Gadsden, AL?

Expect Gadsden's first fall frost near November 13 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Gadsden in?

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

How long is the growing season in Gadsden?

Gadsden has about 239 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 19) and first fall frost (November 13).

When should I plant tomatoes in Gadsden?

For Gadsden, sow tomatoes indoors about January 22–February 5 and move the seedlings out around March 26, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Gadsden

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at GADSDEN, 3 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 Gadsden, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00013154. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/gadsden.
When to Plant in Gadsden, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8a — BlissGarden