Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 35986 — Rainsville, AL

ZIP code 35986 (Rainsville, DeKalb County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 8.

Where ZIP 35986 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 29

First frostNov 8

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 Rainsville, 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 Rainsville, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostMarch 29median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsApril 16only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostNovember 8median — 10% chance by Oct 26

Growing season225 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 14 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Ft Payne, AL — 8 miles away, elevation 919 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 35986

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1

SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 8

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22

LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22

TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15

TomatoesTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26

BeansSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 13 – Sep 27

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 25 – Nov 29

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 8) 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 35986 came on Feb 20 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19).

average
Feb 192026
Feb 20

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.

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 Rainsville, AL.

Soil in Rainsville, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35986 is Wynnville — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding

pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter1.25%low — add compost

Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise

Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Wynnville-Nauvoo fine sandy loams, 2 to 6 percent slopes, 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 35986; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rainsville, AL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July

Winter low32 °Faverage low, January

Hot days60days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights57nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days5,326base 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

Precipitation57.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ft Payne, AL (8 mi away); precipitation: Rainsville 1.9 S, AL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

359688a

Fort Payne, AL · 3 mi

Fort Payne, AL · 11 mi

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 35986

What planting zone is ZIP code 35986?

ZIP code 35986 (Rainsville, 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 Rainsville, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 35986 is March 29; after April 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Payne station.

When is the first frost in Rainsville, AL?

The median first fall frost near 35986 is November 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 225 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 35986?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 1 – Feb 15 and set transplants outside around Apr 5 – Apr 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 35986 get?

About 57.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rainsville 1.9 S station).

How hot do summers get in Rainsville, AL?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 60 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 35986 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wynnville at the center of ZIP 35986: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Rainsville, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 35986 came on Feb 20 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 Rainsville, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 35986 is 14 h 28 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 35986 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 35986 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.