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

Planting zone for Dothan, AL

Dothan, AL is in USDA zone 9a across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 1 and the first fall frost November 24.

Dothan 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostMar 1
First frostNov 24
Growing season270 days

9a 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Dothan, 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 Dothan, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 24median — 10% chance by Nov 7
Growing season270 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 12 and returns around December 16.

From the NOAA station Dothan Regional Airport, AL, elevation 371 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 Dothan

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 18 – Feb 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 21 – Jan 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 21 – Jan 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 29 – Oct 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 10 – Dec 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 1) and first fall frost (Nov 24) 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 36302 came on Jan 27 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 29).

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 9a in Alabama

582 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Alabama, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 84

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 133

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 178

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 162

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 Dothan, AL.

Soil in Dothan, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 36302 is Dothan — loamy sand, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Dothan complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes.

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 36302; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dothan, AL

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low40 °Faverage low, January
Hot days89days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights21nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,792base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation57.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° FebMarch: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° AprMay: average high 87 °F, low 64 °F 87°64° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 73 °F 93°73° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 72 °F 92°72° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JanFebruary: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 FebMarch: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 MarApril: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 5.41 in precipitation 5.4 JunJuly: 6.22 in precipitation 6.2 JulAugust: 5.38 in precipitation 5.4 AugSeptember: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 NovDecember: 5.32 in precipitation 5.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Dothan Regional Airport, AL (7 mi away); precipitation: Dothan, AL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Dothan

363019a
20 to 25 °F
363029a
20 to 25 °F
363039a
20 to 25 °F
363049a
20 to 25 °F
363059a
20 to 25 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Dothan

What planting zone is Dothan, AL?

Dothan, AL is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in Dothan, AL?

The median last spring frost is March 1 and the median first fall frost is November 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dothan Regional Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Dothan, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 18 – Feb 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 8, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Dothan, AL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 11 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Dothan, AL get?

About 57.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).