Frost dates for ZIP 36528 (Dauphin Island, AL)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Dauphin Is #2, AL (10 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 78% of years (about 4 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostJan 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 6 (next year)50% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)340 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Fall in zone 9b
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 61°F, as of Oct 18, 8:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tnc Fort Bayou (34 mi), Koptis Farms (38 mi).
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 18, 8:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tnc Fort Bayou (34 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 36528 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 72°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about Mar 18 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Kale: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 28
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 14–Nov 11
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 28
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 14–Nov 11
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 14–28
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 25
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 28–Nov 25
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Jan 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 31 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 27 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Dec 12 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 6 (next year) |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 2 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 11 | Dec 28 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 31 | Jan 6 (next year) |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 21 | Jan 13 (next year) |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 36528
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 31) and first fall frost (Jan 6). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 6–20 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 6–20 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 6–20 | Jan 10–31 (transplant) Jan 3–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–Dec 2 (transplant) Oct 28–Nov 25 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 20–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–Dec 2 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (transplant) Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–31 (transplant) Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (transplant) Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 8–22 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–Dec 9 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 17–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 27–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Nov 25–Dec 9 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 8–22 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 8–22 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 25–Dec 23 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Nov 25–Dec 23 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 3–10 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 3–10 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 8–22 | Feb 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Oct 28–Nov 25 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Dauphin Is #2, AL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00012172), elevation 8 ft, 9.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coden, AL | 10 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 24 |
| Pascagoula 3 NE, MS | 18 mi | Mar 8 | Nov 19 |
| Pascagoula Lott Intl AP, MS | 23 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 44 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 36528
When is the last frost in 36528?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 36528 is January 31. For a more cautious planting date, use February 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 36528?
The average first fall freeze is January 6 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 12.
What hardiness zone is 36528?
ZIP 36528 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 36528 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
36523 36509 Bayou La Batre 36544 Bayou La Batre 39581 Pascagoula 36541 Grand Bay 36568 36582 Mobile 39567 Pascagoula
Other ZIP codes in Mobile County
36505 36509 36512 36521 36522 36523 36525 36541 36544 36560 36568 36571 36572 36575 36582 36587 36602 36603 36604 36605 36606 36607 36608 36609 All Mobile County frost dates · Alabama frost dates
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