When to plant in Selma, AL
USDA Zone 8bSelma, Alabama frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
A generous ~255-day season lets Selma gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Selma, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Selma is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SELMA · 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 Selma’s own odds, recorded at SELMA.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 13 | Mar 25 | Mar 2 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 | Nov 23 |
| 32°F | Mar 28 | Mar 8 | Feb 15 | Nov 2 | Nov 18 | Dec 8 |
| 28°F | Mar 16 | Feb 24 | Jan 28 | Nov 12 | 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 Selma, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 19 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.
Selma planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Selma, AL?
Selma's average last spring frost falls near March 8 — 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 Selma, AL?
The first fall frost in Selma typically arrives around November 18 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Selma in?
Selma is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Selma?
There are roughly 255 frost-free days in Selma (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 8 to the first fall frost near November 18.
When should I plant tomatoes in Selma?
In Selma, start tomato seeds indoors around January 11–January 25, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 15 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Selma
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Selma’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Prattville · 55 km
- Millbrook · 63 km
- Montgomery · 73 km
- Calera · 83 km
- Pike Road · 88 km
- Alabaster · 91 km
- Helena · 97 km
- McCalla · 99 km
Frost dates recorded at SELMA, 2 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 Selma, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00017366. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/selma.