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

Planting zone for 35620 — Elkmont, AL

ZIP code 35620 (Elkmont, Limestone County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost November 4.

Where ZIP 35620 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostMar 30
First frostNov 4
2012 zone7b

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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Elkmont, 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 Elkmont, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 4median — 10% chance by Oct 23
Growing season223 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 18.

From the NOAA station Ardmore, TN — 10 miles away, elevation 886 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 35620

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 9 – Sep 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 21 – Nov 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 30) and first fall frost (Nov 4) 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 35620 came on Feb 18 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19).

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 7b in Alabama

526 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Alabama, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 80

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 117

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 166

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 140

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 Elkmont, AL.

Soil in Elkmont, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35620 is Fullerton — gravelly silt loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly silt 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 groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Fullerton gravelly silt loam, 12 to 30 percent slopes, moderately eroded.

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 35620; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elkmont, AL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days65days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights66nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,179base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation55.7 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 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° JanFebruary: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 48 °F 75°48° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 70 °F 91°70° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 68 °F 91°68° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 49 °F 76°49° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 JanFebruary: 5.39 in precipitation 5.4 FebMarch: 5.44 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 5.10 in precipitation 5.1 AprMay: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 NovDecember: 7.00 in precipitation 7.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ardmore, TN (10 mi away); precipitation: Ardmore, TN (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

356148a
Athens, AL · 6 mi
356477b
Lester, AL · 6 mi
384777b
Prospect, TN · 9 mi
384737b
Minor Hill, TN · 11 mi
356128a
Athens, AL · 11 mi
356138a
Athens, AL · 11 mi
356118a
Athens, AL · 11 mi
384557b
Elkton, TN · 12 mi

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 35620

What planting zone is ZIP code 35620?

ZIP code 35620 (Elkmont, AL) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Elkmont, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 35620 is March 30; after April 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ardmore station.

When is the first frost in Elkmont, AL?

The median first fall frost near 35620 is November 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 223 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 35620?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 2 – Feb 16 and set transplants outside around Apr 6 – Apr 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 35620 get?

About 55.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ardmore station).

How hot do summers get in Elkmont, AL?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 65 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 35620 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Fullerton at the center of ZIP 35620: gravelly silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Elkmont, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 35620 came on Feb 18 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Elkmont, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 35620 is 14 h 30 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.