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

Planting zone for 35962 — Crossville, AL

ZIP code 35962 (Crossville, DeKalb 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 3.

Where ZIP 35962 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 3
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 Crossville, 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 Crossville, 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 3median — 10% chance by Oct 22
Growing season217 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 14.

From the NOAA station Sand Mt Substn, AL — 4 miles away, elevation 1,191 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 35962

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 8 – Sep 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 20 – Nov 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 3) 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 35962 came on Feb 18 — about the same time as 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 Crossville, AL.

Soil in Crossville, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35962 is Muskingum (Gorgas) — stony fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureStony fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately 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: Muskingum (Gorgas) stony fine sandy loam, 5 to 10 percent slopes, very stony.

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 35962; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Crossville, AL

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days31days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights65nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,588base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation56.5 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 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° NovDecember: average high 52 °F, low 34 °F 52°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.30 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 5.3 JanFebruary: 5.18 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 5.2 FebMarch: 5.50 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 5.5❄1 MarApril: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 5.78 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sand Mt Substn, AL (4 mi away); precipitation: Sand Mt Substn, AL (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

359748a
Geraldine, AL · 5 mi
359518a
Albertville, AL · 7 mi
359638a
Dawson, AL · 8 mi
359758a
Groveoak, AL · 10 mi
359618a
Collinsville, AL · 11 mi
359578a
Boaz, AL · 12 mi
359718a
Fyffe, AL · 12 mi
359568a
Boaz, AL · 12 mi

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 35962

What planting zone is ZIP code 35962?

ZIP code 35962 (Crossville, 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 Crossville, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 35962 is March 31; after April 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sand Mt Substn station.

When is the first frost in Crossville, AL?

The median first fall frost near 35962 is November 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 217 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 35962?

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 35962 get?

About 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sand Mt Substn station).

How hot do summers get in Crossville, AL?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 31 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 35962 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Muskingum (Gorgas) at the center of ZIP 35962: stony fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Crossville, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 35962 came on Feb 18 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Crossville, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 35962 is 14 h 27 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 35962 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 35962 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.