Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Bessemer, AL

Bessemer, AL is in USDA zones 8a to 8b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 23 and the first fall frost November 10.

Bessemer on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones8a–8b10 to 20 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMar 23
First frostNov 10
Growing season231 days

8a 3 ZIPs   8b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bessemer, AL…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Bessemer, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 27
Growing season231 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 9 and returns around November 23.

From the NOAA station Bessemer 3 Wsw, AL, elevation 446 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Bessemer

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 10) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 35020 came on Feb 13 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 8).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8a in Alabama

550 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Alabama, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 83

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °FAtlantic white cedar50 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Shrubs 125

Allegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 171

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 148

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbig cordgrass8 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −3 °F

Vines 13

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Bessemer, AL.

Soil in Bessemer, AL

The center of ZIP 35020 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 35020; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bessemer, AL

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days80days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights57nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,646base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation58.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 71 °F 92°71° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 64 °F 87°64° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.37 in precipitation 5.4 JanFebruary: 5.53 in precipitation 5.5 FebMarch: 5.48 in precipitation 5.5 MarApril: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 5.75 in precipitation 5.8 JulAugust: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bessemer 3 Wsw, AL (3 mi away); precipitation: Bessemer 1.0 Wnw, AL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Bessemer

350208a
10 to 15 °F
350218a
10 to 15 °F
350228b
15 to 20 °F
350238a
10 to 15 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Bessemer

What planting zone is Bessemer, AL?

Bessemer, AL is in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F; 8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Bessemer, AL?

The median last spring frost is March 23 and the median first fall frost is November 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bessemer 3 Wsw station).

When can I plant a garden in Bessemer, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 9 – Mar 2; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 30, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Bessemer, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 22 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Bessemer, AL get?

About 58.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).