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

Planting zone for 35031 — Blountsville, AL

ZIP code 35031 (Blountsville, Blount County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 35031 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 6
First frostOct 29
2012 zone7b

Was 7b 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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Blountsville, 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 Blountsville, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season205 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 25 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Hanceville, AL — 14 miles away, elevation 591 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 35031

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 6) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 35031 came on Feb 17 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 15).

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 8a in Alabama

550 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Alabama, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 83

Shrubs 125

Wildflowers & perennials 171

Grasses 148

Vines 13

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 Blountsville, AL.

Soil in Blountsville, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35031 is Bodine — gravelly silt loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureGravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bodine cherty silt loam, 15 to 45 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 35031; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Blountsville, AL

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days46days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights72nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,556base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation59.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.55 in precipitation 5.5 JanFebruary: 5.53 in precipitation 5.5 FebMarch: 5.74 in precipitation 5.7 MarApril: 5.34 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 5.13 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 4.84 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 6.22 in precipitation 6.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hanceville, AL (14 mi away); precipitation: Blountsville 1.3 Nw, AL (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 35031

What planting zone is ZIP code 35031?

ZIP code 35031 (Blountsville, AL) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Blountsville, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 35031 is April 6; after April 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hanceville station.

When is the first frost in Blountsville, AL?

The median first fall frost near 35031 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 205 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 35031?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 9 – Feb 23 and set transplants outside around Apr 13 – Apr 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 35031 get?

About 59.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Blountsville 1.3 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Blountsville, AL?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 46 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 35031 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bodine at the center of ZIP 35031: gravelly silt loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Blountsville, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 35031 came on Feb 17 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Blountsville, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 35031 is 14 h 26 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 35031 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 35031 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.