When to plant in Gulf Shores, AL
USDA Zone 9aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Gulf Shores, Alabama — all computed from Gulf Shores's nearest NOAA weather station.
Gulf Shores enjoys a long ~263-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Gulf Shores's nearest full-normals station sits about 32 km out, so treat these as a close estimate — local microclimate can nudge your first and last frost. Zone 9a is warm enough that Gulf Shores can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
ROBERTSDALE · 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 Gulf Shores’s own odds, recorded at ROBERTSDALE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 8 | Mar 21 | Feb 28 | Oct 27 | Nov 12 | Nov 30 |
| 32°F | Mar 26 | Mar 5 | Feb 12 | Nov 5 | Nov 23 | Dec 15 |
| 28°F | Mar 14 | Feb 21 | Jan 24 | Nov 17 | Dec 9 | Jan 10 |
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 Gulf Shores, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 35 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.
Gulf Shores planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Gulf Shores, AL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Gulf Shores around March 5 (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 Gulf Shores, AL?
The first fall frost in Gulf Shores typically arrives around November 23 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Gulf Shores in?
Gulf Shores is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Gulf Shores?
There are roughly 263 frost-free days in Gulf Shores (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 5 to the first fall frost near November 23.
When should I plant tomatoes in Gulf Shores?
In Gulf Shores, start tomato seeds indoors around January 8–January 22, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 12 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Gulf Shores
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Gulf Shores’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Foley · 14 km
- Fairhope · 32 km
- Warrington · 41 km
- Myrtle Grove · 41 km
- Daphne · 42 km
- Bellview · 43 km
- West Pensacola · 45 km
- Brent · 48 km
Frost dates recorded at ROBERTSDALE, 32 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 Gulf Shores, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00016988. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/gulf-shores.