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

Planting zone for Mobile, AL

Mobile, AL is in USDA zone 9a across its 34 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 21 and the first fall frost December 6.

Mobile on the zone map

Outlined: its 20 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 codes34
Last frostFeb 21
First frostDec 6
Growing season292 days

9a 34 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mobile, 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 Mobile, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 6median — 10% chance by Nov 15
Growing season292 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 2 and returns around December 30.

From the NOAA station Mobile Dwtn Airport, AL, elevation 26 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 Mobile

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 10 – Jan 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 13 – Dec 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 27 – Jan 10
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 13 – Dec 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 11 – Oct 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 22 – Dec 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 21) and first fall frost (Dec 6) 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 36616 came on Jan 11 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 27).

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 Mobile, AL.

Soil in Mobile, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 36616 is Smithton — fine sandy loam, poorly drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land, 0 to 8 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 36616; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mobile, AL

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low43 °Faverage low, January
Hot days73days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights15nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,192base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation68.5 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 43 °F 62°43° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 46 °F 66°46° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 73 °F 90°73° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 75 °F 92°75° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 75 °F 92°75° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 72 °F 89°72° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° OctNovember: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.98 in precipitation 6.0 JanFebruary: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 FebMarch: 5.14 in precipitation 5.1 MarApril: 5.59 in precipitation 5.6 AprMay: 6.57 in precipitation 6.6 MayJune: 7.28 in precipitation 7.3 JunJuly: 6.99 in precipitation 7.0 JulAugust: 6.54 in precipitation 6.5 AugSeptember: 5.66 in precipitation 5.7 SepOctober: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.91 in precipitation 5.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mobile Dwtn Airport, AL (4 mi away); precipitation: Mobile 1.2 Wsw, AL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Mobile

366019a
20 to 25 °F
366029a
20 to 25 °F
366039a
20 to 25 °F
366049a
20 to 25 °F
366059a
20 to 25 °F
366069a
20 to 25 °F
366079a
20 to 25 °F
366089a
20 to 25 °F
366099a
20 to 25 °F
366109a
20 to 25 °F
366119a
20 to 25 °F
366129a
20 to 25 °F
366159a
20 to 25 °F
366169a
20 to 25 °F
366179a
20 to 25 °F
366189a
20 to 25 °F
366199a
20 to 25 °F
366289a
20 to 25 °F
366339a
20 to 25 °F
366409a
20 to 25 °F
366419a
20 to 25 °F
366449a
20 to 25 °F
366529a
20 to 25 °F
366609a
20 to 25 °F
366639a
20 to 25 °F
366709a
20 to 25 °F
366719a
20 to 25 °F
366759a
20 to 25 °F
366859a
20 to 25 °F
366889a
20 to 25 °F
366899a
20 to 25 °F
366919a
20 to 25 °F
366939a
20 to 25 °F
366959a
20 to 25 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Mobile

What planting zone is Mobile, AL?

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

When is the last frost in Mobile, AL?

The median last spring frost is February 21 and the median first fall frost is December 6 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mobile Dwtn Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Mobile, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 10 – Jan 31; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 28, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Mobile, AL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 08 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Mobile, AL get?

About 68.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).