When to plant in Opelika, AL
USDA Zone 8aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Opelika, Alabama — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Opelika, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Opelika is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
OPELIKA · 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 Opelika’s own odds, recorded at OPELIKA.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 25 | Apr 10 | Mar 24 | Oct 12 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 |
| 32°F | Apr 15 | Mar 29 | Mar 6 | Oct 22 | Nov 5 | Nov 22 |
| 28°F | Apr 1 | Mar 13 | Feb 19 | Nov 1 | Nov 18 | Dec 7 |
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 Opelika, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 28 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.
Opelika planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Opelika, AL?
Opelika's average last spring frost falls near March 29 — 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 Opelika, AL?
In Opelika, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 5 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Opelika in?
Opelika is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Opelika?
There are roughly 221 frost-free days in Opelika (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 29 to the first fall frost near November 5.
When should I plant tomatoes in Opelika?
In Opelika, 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 Opelika
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Opelika’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Auburn · 12 km
- Valley · 25 km
- Phenix City · 40 km
- Columbus · 50 km
- LaGrange · 52 km
- Alexander City · 60 km
- Pike Road · 82 km
- Eufaula · 86 km
Frost dates recorded at OPELIKA, 7 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 Opelika, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00016129. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/opelika.