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

Planting zone for Montgomery, AL

Montgomery, AL is in USDA zone 8b across its 31 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 4 and the first fall frost November 18.

Montgomery on the zone map

Outlined: its 14 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes31
Last frostMar 4
First frostNov 18
Growing season262 days

8b 31 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Montgomery, 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 Montgomery, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 18median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season262 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 17 and returns around December 4.

From the NOAA station Montgomery 6sw, AL, elevation 226 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 Montgomery

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 21 – Feb 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 24 – Jan 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 24 – Jan 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 23 – Oct 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 4 – Dec 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 4) and first fall frost (Nov 18) 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 36116 came on Feb 10 — 8 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2).

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 8b in Alabama

569 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Alabama, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. 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 130

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 176

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 157

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 Montgomery, AL.

Soil in Montgomery, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 36116 is Faunsdale — clay loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Faunsdale clay loam, 1 to 3 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 36116; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Montgomery, AL

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July
Winter low40 °Faverage low, January
Hot days92days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights40nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,886base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation51.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 40 °F 60°40° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 71 °F 92°71° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 75 °F 94°75° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 74 °F 94°74° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° NovDecember: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 JanFebruary: 5.10 in precipitation 5.1 FebMarch: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 MarApril: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Montgomery 6sw, AL (within 1 mile); precipitation: Montgomery 6sw, AL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Montgomery

361018b
15 to 20 °F
361028b
15 to 20 °F
361038b
15 to 20 °F
361048b
15 to 20 °F
361058b
15 to 20 °F
361068b
15 to 20 °F
361078b
15 to 20 °F
361088b
15 to 20 °F
361098b
15 to 20 °F
361108b
15 to 20 °F
361118b
15 to 20 °F
361128b
15 to 20 °F
361138b
15 to 20 °F
361158b
15 to 20 °F
361168b
15 to 20 °F
361178b
15 to 20 °F
361188b
15 to 20 °F
361198b
15 to 20 °F
361208b
15 to 20 °F
361218b
15 to 20 °F
361238b
15 to 20 °F
361248b
15 to 20 °F
361258b
15 to 20 °F
361318b
15 to 20 °F
361328b
15 to 20 °F
361358b
15 to 20 °F
361408b
15 to 20 °F
361418b
15 to 20 °F
361428b
15 to 20 °F
361778b
15 to 20 °F
361918b
15 to 20 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Montgomery

What planting zone is Montgomery, AL?

Montgomery, AL is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Montgomery, AL?

The median last spring frost is March 4 and the median first fall frost is November 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montgomery 6sw station).

When can I plant a garden in Montgomery, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 21 – Feb 11; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 11, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Montgomery, AL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 16 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Montgomery, AL get?

About 51.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).