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

Planting zone for 35128 — Pell City, AL

ZIP code 35128 (Pell City, St. Clair County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost November 1.

Where ZIP 35128 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 5
First frostNov 1
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 Pell City, 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 Pell City, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 19
Growing season208 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 25 and returns around November 10.

From the NOAA station Talladega, AL — 15 miles away, elevation 449 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 35128

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 5) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 35128 came on Feb 14 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11).

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).

Soil in Pell City, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35128 is Townley — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Townley silt loam, 6 to 15 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 35128; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pell City, AL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days62days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights71nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,053base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation57.3 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 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 40 °F 67°40° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 46 °F 75°46° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 56 °F 82°56° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 65 °F 88°65° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 68 °F 91°68° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 67 °F 90°67° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 61 °F 86°61° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 49 °F 76°49° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 38 °F 65°38° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 JanFebruary: 5.58 in precipitation 5.6 FebMarch: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 MarApril: 5.55 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Talladega, AL (15 mi away); precipitation: Moody 2.0 Ese, AL (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

350548a
Cropwell, AL · 3 mi
350528a
Cook Springs, AL · 5 mi
351258a
Pell City, AL · 6 mi
351208a
Odenville, AL · 9 mi
350048a
Moody, AL · 10 mi
351358a
Riverside, AL · 10 mi
351788a
Vincent, AL · 10 mi
351768a
Vandiver, AL · 11 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Pell City → · Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 35128

What planting zone is ZIP code 35128?

ZIP code 35128 (Pell City, 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 Pell City, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 35128 is April 5; after April 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Talladega station.

When is the first frost in Pell City, AL?

The median first fall frost near 35128 is November 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 208 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 35128?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 8 – Feb 22 and set transplants outside around Apr 12 – Apr 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 35128 get?

About 57.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Moody 2.0 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Pell City, AL?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 62 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 35128 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Townley at the center of ZIP 35128: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Pell City, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 35128 came on Feb 14 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pell City, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 35128 is 14 h 23 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 35128 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 35128 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.