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Last and first frost dates in Birmingham (United States)

United States

In Birmingham (United States) the last spring frost usually comes around 10 March and the first autumn frost around 26 November, which leaves about 261 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 17 March to 6 August.

Last spring frostaround 10 March
First autumn frostaround 26 November
Frost-free days261 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 8a

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Birmingham (United States)?

The last frost in Birmingham (United States) usually comes around 10 March: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 17 February, while corn waits until 17 March. The first autumn frost follows around 26 November, about 261 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha15 January – 18 August24 February – 27 September17 March – 27 September
Ageratumfrom 30 December—from 17 March
Arugula——sow 17 February – 22 October
Basil9 February – 24 September19 March – 1 November9 April – 1 November
Beet——sow 17 February – 27 September
Bell Pepper18 January – 7 June19 March – 6 August9 April – 6 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 24 December—from 17 March
Bok Choy20 January – 5 October24 February – 9 November17 March – 9 November
Borage——sow 17 March – 2 October
Broad bean——sow 17 February – 18 August
Broccoli——sow 17 February – 11 August
Brussels Sprouts13 December – 9 July27 January – 23 August17 February – 23 August
Busy Lizziefrom 23 December—from 17 March
Cabbage——sow 17 February – 19 July
Calendula——sow from 17 February
Carrot——sow 17 February – 3 September
Cauliflower16 December – 11 August27 January – 22 September17 February – 22 September
Celeriac9 December – 8 June24 February – 24 August17 March – 24 August
Celery9 December – 18 June24 February – 3 September17 March – 3 September
Celosiafrom 10 Januaryfrom 24 Februaryfrom 17 March
Chamomile——sow 17 February – 22 September
Chayote28 November – 1 June24 February – 28 August17 March – 28 August
Chickpea——sow 17 February – 8 August
Chicory2 January – 2 September—17 February – 27 September
Chili Pepper18 January – 14 July19 March – 12 September9 April – 12 September
China asterfrom 26 Januaryfrom 19 Marchfrom 9 April
Chives——sow 17 February – 13 September
Cilantro——sow 17 February – 23 September
Corn——sow 17 March – 8 August
Corn poppy——sow from 17 February
Cosmosfrom 10 Januaryfrom 24 Februaryfrom 17 March
Cucumber19 February – 14 August19 March – 11 September9 April – 11 September
Daikon——sow 17 February – 20 September
Delphiniumfrom 29 November—from 17 February
Dill——sow 17 February – 3 October
Edging lobeliafrom 23 December—from 17 March
Eggplant18 January – 7 June19 March – 6 August9 April – 6 August
Florence fennel10 January – 18 August24 February – 2 October17 March – 2 October
Foxglovefrom 11 November—from 17 February
Garden sorrel——sow 17 February – 21 September
Green Beans——sow 17 March – 16 August
Hollyhock——sow from 17 February
Hyssop——sow 17 February – 14 August
Kale——sow 17 February – 15 September
Kiwano23 January – 21 August24 February – 22 September17 March – 22 September
Kohlrabi——sow 17 February – 25 September
Leek18 November – 30 May27 January – 8 August17 February – 8 August
Lemon balm——sow 17 February – 17 September
Lettuce——sow 17 February – 30 September
Lisianthusfrom 1 Novemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Lovage——sow from 17 February
Luffa5 February – 15 June19 March – 27 July9 April – 27 July
Marigoldfrom 13 Januaryfrom 24 Februaryfrom 17 March
Marjoram18 January – 2 September—9 April – 1 November
Melon19 February – 1 August19 March – 29 August9 April – 29 August
Microgreens——sow 17 March – 12 November
Moringa16 February – 7 September12 April – 1 November3 May – 1 November
Moss rosefrom 30 December—from 17 March
Mustard greens——sow 17 February – 12 October
Napa cabbage22 January – 12 September24 February – 15 October17 March – 15 October
Nasturtiumfrom 17 Januaryfrom 24 Februaryfrom 17 March
Okra5 February – 26 August19 March – 7 October9 April – 7 October
Oregano28 November – 23 August27 January – 22 October17 February – 22 October
Pansyfrom 2 Decemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Parsley——sow 17 February – 11 September
Parsnip——sow 17 February – 31 July
Peanut10 February – 22 July19 March – 28 August9 April – 28 August
Peas——sow 17 February – 13 September
Petuniafrom 15 Januaryfrom 19 Marchfrom 9 April
Physalis10 January – 19 July24 February – 2 September17 March – 2 September
Pumpkin5 February – 20 June19 March – 1 August9 April – 1 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 26 November—from 17 February
Radish——sow 17 February – 27 October
Sage9 December – 19 August27 January – 7 October17 February – 7 October
Scarlet sagefrom 3 January—from 17 March
Snapdragonfrom 23 Novemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Soybean——sow 9 April – 7 September
Spinach——sow 17 February – 2 October
Stevia6 January – 10 July24 February – 28 August17 March – 28 August
Stock——sow from 17 February
Sunflower——sow from 17 March
Sweet alyssum——sow from 17 February
Sweet Corn2 February – 2 September24 February – 24 September17 March – 24 September
Sweet peafrom 16 Decemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Sweet William——sow from 17 February
Swiss Chard——sow 17 February – 27 September
Thyme——sow 17 February – 8 August
Tomato3 January – 15 June24 February – 6 August17 March – 6 August
Turnip——sow 17 February – 29 September
Watercress——sow 17 February – 10 October
Watermelon19 February – 20 July19 March – 17 August9 April – 17 August
Zinniafrom 8 Marchfrom 12 Aprilfrom 3 May
Zucchini26 February – 19 August19 March – 9 September9 April – 9 September

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

What planting zone is Birmingham (United States)?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Birmingham (United States) (ZIP 35203) in zone 8a. Zone 8a stands for an average coldest night of 10 to 15 °F (-12.2 to -9.4 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 8a or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for Birmingham (United States): USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Birmingham (United States)

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo).

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °Calready in the first week of January—
15 °C3 March7 days earlier
18 °C9 April30 days later

Frost dates near Birmingham (United States)

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Montgomery (1 March) and latest in Nashville (24 March).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Huntsville132 km20 March14 November
Montgomery136 km1 March29 November
Chattanooga224 km20 March12 November
Atlanta225 km15 March22 November
Nashville294 km24 March14 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Birmingham (United States)

Within 15 km of Birmingham (United States) OpenStreetMap lists 6 garden centres and 2 markets (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Leaf & Petal, 4 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Birmingham (United States)

Frosts in Birmingham (United States) usually come from about 26 November to about 10 March. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Birmingham (United States) by month

Average weather in Birmingham (United States) over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (22.7–32 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (30.4 °C), July (32 °C) and August (31.5 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 2.8 °C. About 1376 mm of rain falls in a year, on 135 days; February is the wettest month (153 mm) and November the driest (77 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January12.12.812410
February16.46.215312
March19.38.914912
April22.711.612510
May2716.610812
June30.420.512114
July3222.611617
August31.522.111915
September29.819.8878
October24.614.2897
November18.38.1778
December14.25.110810

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 27 October
Crocusby 27 October
Daffodilby 27 October
Garlic27 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 27 October
Helleboreby 27 October
Hyacinthby 27 October
Lilyby 27 October
Ornamental onionby 27 October
Peonyby 27 October
Saffronby 27 October
Snowdropby 27 October
Tulipby 27 October
Wild garlicby 27 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).