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

Planting zone for 35769 — Scottsboro, AL

ZIP code 35769 (Scottsboro, Jackson County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 35769 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 4
First frostOct 30
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 Scottsboro, 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 Scottsboro, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season209 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 22 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Scottsboro, AL — 6 miles away, elevation 617 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 35769

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 35769 came on Feb 20 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16).

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

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 125

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 171

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 148

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 Scottsboro, AL.

Soil in Scottsboro, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35769 is Allen — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
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 classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Allen fine sandy loam, eroded, rolling phase.

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 35769; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Scottsboro, AL

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days57days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights75nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,680base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation59.7 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 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 60 °F 84°60° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 37 °F 63°37° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 6.07 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 6.1 JanFebruary: 5.72 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 5.7❄1 FebMarch: 5.69 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 5.7❄1 MarApril: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 AprMay: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 NovDecember: 6.20 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 6.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Scottsboro, AL (6 mi away); precipitation: Scottsboro, AL (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

357558a
Langston, AL · 6 mi
357718a
Section, AL · 7 mi
357768a
Woodville, AL · 9 mi
359758a
Groveoak, AL · 11 mi
357448a
Dutton, AL · 11 mi
357687b
Scottsboro, AL · 13 mi
357478a
Grant, AL · 13 mi
359718a
Fyffe, AL · 13 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Scottsboro → · Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 35769

What planting zone is ZIP code 35769?

ZIP code 35769 (Scottsboro, 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 Scottsboro, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 35769 is April 4; after April 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Scottsboro station.

When is the first frost in Scottsboro, AL?

The median first fall frost near 35769 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 209 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 35769?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 7 – Feb 21 and set transplants outside around Apr 11 – Apr 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 35769 get?

About 59.7 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Scottsboro station).

How hot do summers get in Scottsboro, AL?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 57 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 35769 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Allen at the center of ZIP 35769: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Scottsboro, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 35769 came on Feb 20 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Scottsboro, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 35769 is 14 h 28 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 35769 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 35769 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.