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

Planting zone for 35186 — Wilsonville, AL

ZIP code 35186 (Wilsonville, Shelby County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost November 2.

Where ZIP 35186 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 frostMar 31
First frostNov 2
2012 zone8a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Wilsonville, 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 Wilsonville, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 2median — 10% chance by Oct 20
Growing season216 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 16 and returns around November 12.

From the NOAA station Childersburg Wtp, AL — 10 miles away, elevation 417 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 35186

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 7 – Sep 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 19 – Nov 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 2) 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 35186 came on Feb 13 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 8).

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 Wilsonville, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35186 is Allen — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Allen loam, 2 to 6 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 35186; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wilsonville, AL

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days87days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights58nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,871base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation56 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 43 °F 71°43° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 59 °F 85°59° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 67 °F 91°67° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 70 °F 93°70° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 69 °F 93°69° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 63 °F 88°63° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 51 °F 79°51° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.50 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 5.5 JanFebruary: 6.00 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 6.0 FebMarch: 5.38 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 5.4❄1 MarApril: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 NovDecember: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Childersburg Wtp, AL (10 mi away); precipitation: Childersburg Wtp, AL (10 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.

350518b
Columbiana, AL · 6 mi
350788a
Harpersville, AL · 6 mi
351858a
Westover, AL · 7 mi
350448a
Childersburg, AL · 8 mi
350438b
Chelsea, AL · 10 mi
350328a
Bon Air, AL · 10 mi
351478a
Sterrett, AL · 11 mi
351438a
Shelby, AL · 12 mi

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 35186

What planting zone is ZIP code 35186?

ZIP code 35186 (Wilsonville, 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 Wilsonville, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 35186 is March 31; after April 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Childersburg Wtp station.

When is the first frost in Wilsonville, AL?

The median first fall frost near 35186 is November 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 216 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 35186?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 3 – Feb 17 and set transplants outside around Apr 7 – Apr 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 35186 get?

About 56 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Childersburg Wtp station).

How hot do summers get in Wilsonville, AL?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 87 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 35186 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Allen at the center of ZIP 35186: loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Wilsonville, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 35186 came on Feb 13 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wilsonville, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 35186 is 14 h 21 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.