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

Planting zone for 35976 — Guntersville, AL

ZIP code 35976 (Guntersville, Marshall County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 17 and the first fall frost November 19.

Where ZIP 35976 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 17
First frostNov 19
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 Guntersville, 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 Guntersville, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 19median — 10% chance by Nov 4
Growing season247 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 2 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Guntersville No.2, AL — within 1 mile, elevation 594 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 35976

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 24 – Oct 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 5 – Dec 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 17) and first fall frost (Nov 19) 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 35976 came on Feb 17 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13).

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 Guntersville, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35976 is Tellico — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Tellico and upshur soils, eroded, strongly sloping.

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 35976; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Guntersville, AL

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days49days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights44nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,138base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation56.7 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 50 °F, low 33 °F 50°33° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 68 °F 86°68° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 71 °F 88°71° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 65 °F 83°65° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 54 °F 73°54° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 42 °F 62°42° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.46 in precipitation 5.5 JanFebruary: 5.74 in precipitation 5.7 FebMarch: 5.36 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 4.84 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 5.90 in precipitation 5.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Guntersville No.2, AL (within 1 mile); precipitation: Guntersville No.2, AL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

359508a
Albertville, AL · 7 mi
359518a
Albertville, AL · 10 mi
350168a
Arab, AL · 10 mi
357478a
Grant, AL · 11 mi
359648a
Douglas, AL · 12 mi
359808a
Horton, AL · 12 mi
359578a
Boaz, AL · 12 mi
351758a
Union Grove, AL · 13 mi

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 35976

What planting zone is ZIP code 35976?

ZIP code 35976 (Guntersville, 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 Guntersville, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 35976 is March 17; after April 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Guntersville No.2 station.

When is the first frost in Guntersville, AL?

The median first fall frost near 35976 is November 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 247 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 35976?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 20 – Feb 3 and set transplants outside around Mar 24 – Apr 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 35976 get?

About 56.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Guntersville No.2 station).

How hot do summers get in Guntersville, AL?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 49 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 35976 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tellico at the center of ZIP 35976: loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Guntersville, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 35976 came on Feb 17 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Guntersville, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 35976 is 14 h 27 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.