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

Planting zone for Troy, AL

Troy, AL is in USDA zone 8b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 17 and the first fall frost November 16.

Troy 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMar 17
First frostNov 16
Growing season242 days

8b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Troy, 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 Troy, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 16median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season242 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 5 and returns around November 29.

From the NOAA station Troy 2 W, AL, elevation 472 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 Troy

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 21 – Oct 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 2 – Dec 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 17) and first fall frost (Nov 16) 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 36082 came on Feb 6 — 4 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 Troy, AL.

Soil in Troy, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 36082 is Troup — loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Troup loamy sand, 8 to 20 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 36082; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Troy, AL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days68days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights33nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,053base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation52.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° NovDecember: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JanFebruary: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 FebMarch: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 MarApril: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 AprMay: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 JulAugust: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 NovDecember: 4.96 in precipitation 5.0 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Troy

360798b
15 to 20 °F
360818b
15 to 20 °F
360828b
15 to 20 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Troy

What planting zone is Troy, AL?

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

When is the last frost in Troy, AL?

The median last spring frost is March 17 and the median first fall frost is November 16 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Troy 2 W station).

When can I plant a garden in Troy, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 3 – Feb 24; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 24, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Troy, AL?

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

How much rain and snow does Troy, AL get?

About 52.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).