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

Planting zone for 31701 — Albany, GA

ZIP code 31701 (Albany, Dougherty County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is March 10 and the first fall frost November 20.

Where ZIP 31701 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostMar 10
First frostNov 20
2012 zone8b

Was 8b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Albany, GA…

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 Albany, GA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 20median — 10% chance by Nov 5
Growing season257 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 21 and returns around December 5.

From the NOAA station Albany 3 Se, GA — 2 miles away, elevation 180 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 31701

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 30 – Jan 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 30 – Jan 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 25 – Oct 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 6 – Dec 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 10) and first fall frost (Nov 20) 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 31701 came on Jan 28 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 30).

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 Georgia

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

Trees 90

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 146

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 164

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 Albany, GA.

Soil in Albany, GA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 31701 is Orangeburg — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Orangeburg loamy sand, 2 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 31701; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Albany, GA

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days88days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights36nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,249base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 12 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation52.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 72 °F 92°72° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 72 °F 91°72° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° NovDecember: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 JanFebruary: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 FebMarch: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 MarApril: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 5.69 in precipitation 5.7 AugSeptember: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Albany 3 Se, GA (2 mi away); precipitation: Albany 3 Se, GA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

317039a
Albany, GA · <1 mi
317069a
Albany, GA · 2 mi
317088b
Albany, GA · 2 mi
317029a
Albany, GA · 3 mi
317078b
Albany, GA · 3 mi
317829a
Putney, GA · 4 mi
317049a
Albany, GA · 6 mi
317059a
Albany, GA · 8 mi

All 9 ZIP codes in Albany → · Georgia planting zones →

Questions about 31701

What planting zone is ZIP code 31701?

ZIP code 31701 (Albany, GA) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Albany, GA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 31701 is March 10; after March 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Albany 3 Se station.

When is the first frost in Albany, GA?

The median first fall frost near 31701 is November 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 257 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 31701?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 13 – Jan 27 and set transplants outside around Mar 17 – Mar 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 31701 get?

About 52.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Albany 3 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Albany, GA?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 88 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 31701 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Orangeburg at the center of ZIP 31701: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Albany, GA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 31701 came on Jan 28 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Albany, GA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 31701 is 14 h 12 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 31701 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 31701 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.