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When to plant in Tuscaloosa, AL

USDA Zone 8b

Tuscaloosa, Alabama frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.

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

Station · NORTHPORT 2 S · 6.4 km
Last spring frost
March 18
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 10
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
237 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for TuscaloosaA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Tuscaloosa: last spring frost around March 18, first fall frost around November 10, about 237 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

NORTHPORT 2 S · 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 Tuscaloosa’s own odds, recorded at NORTHPORT 2 S.

Frost-probability curves for TuscaloosaProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around March 18 and the first fall frost around November 10, giving about 237 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 17Apr 1Mar 14Oct 20Nov 1Nov 15
32°FApr 4Mar 18Feb 26Oct 29Nov 10Nov 29
28°FMar 22Mar 3Feb 6Nov 6Nov 25Dec 22

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 2 days
Brussels Sprouts
July 21August 4
Fall sowin 16 days
Rutabaga
August 4August 18

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

Nearby weather stations

3 within 9 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.

NORTHPORT 2 S
Primary
6 km · 46 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 18
FALL
Nov 10
TUSCALOOSA MUNI AP
9 km · 46 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 16
FALL
Nov 12
TUSCALOOSA ACFD
9 km · 52 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 12
FALL
Nov 15

Tuscaloosa planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Tuscaloosa, AL?

Tuscaloosa's average last spring frost falls near March 18 — 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 Tuscaloosa, AL?

The first fall frost in Tuscaloosa typically arrives around November 10 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Tuscaloosa in?

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

How long is the growing season in Tuscaloosa?

Tuscaloosa has about 237 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 18) and first fall frost (November 10).

When should I plant tomatoes in Tuscaloosa?

For Tuscaloosa, sow tomatoes indoors about January 21–February 4 and move the seedlings out around March 25, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Tuscaloosa

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at NORTHPORT 2 S, 6 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 Tuscaloosa, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00073801. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alabama/tuscaloosa.
When to Plant in Tuscaloosa, AL — Frost Dates & Zone 8b — BlissGarden