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

Planting zone for 35902 — Gadsden, AL

ZIP code 35902 (Gadsden, Etowah County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost November 13.

Where ZIP 35902 is

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 19
First frostNov 13
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 Gadsden, 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 Gadsden, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 13median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season240 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 4 and returns around November 27.

From the NOAA station Gadsden, AL — within 1 mile, elevation 564 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 35902

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 18 – Oct 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 30 – Dec 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 13) 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 35902 came on Feb 17 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14).

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 Gadsden, AL.

Soil in Gadsden, AL

The center of ZIP 35902 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 35902; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gadsden, AL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days66days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights53nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,448base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 25 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
Precipitation57.6 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 53 °F, low 33 °F 53°33° JanFebruary: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.70 in precipitation 5.7 JanFebruary: 5.18 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.2 FebMarch: 5.40 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 5.07 in precipitation 5.1 AprMay: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.48 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gadsden, AL (within 1 mile); precipitation: Gadsden, AL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

359048a
Gadsden, AL · 4 mi
359018a
Gadsden, AL · 5 mi
359548a
Attalla, AL · 6 mi
359058a
Gadsden, AL · 6 mi
359068a
Rainbow City, AL · 8 mi
359078a
Gadsden, AL · 9 mi
359038a
Gadsden, AL · 9 mi
362798a
Wellington, AL · 12 mi

All 6 ZIP codes in Gadsden → · Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 35902

What planting zone is ZIP code 35902?

ZIP code 35902 (Gadsden, 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 Gadsden, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 35902 is March 19; after April 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gadsden station.

When is the first frost in Gadsden, AL?

The median first fall frost near 35902 is November 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 240 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 35902?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 22 – Feb 5 and set transplants outside around Mar 26 – Apr 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 35902 get?

About 57.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gadsden station).

How hot do summers get in Gadsden, AL?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 66 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Gadsden, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 35902 came on Feb 17 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gadsden, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 35902 is 14 h 25 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.