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

Planting zone for 36549 — Lillian, AL

ZIP code 36549 (Lillian, Baldwin County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is February 28 and the first fall frost November 29.

Where ZIP 36549 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostFeb 28
First frostNov 29
2012 zone9a

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 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lillian, 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 Lillian, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 29median — 10% chance by Nov 8
Growing season277 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 6 and returns around December 21.

From the NOAA station Pensacola Forest Sherman NAS, FL — 9 miles away, elevation 30 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 36549

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 4 – Oct 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 15 – Dec 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 28) and first fall frost (Nov 29) 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 36549 came on Jan 16 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26).

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 Lillian, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 36549 is Lakeland — loamy fine sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lakeland loamy fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes.

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 36549; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lillian, AL

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low42 °Faverage low, January
Hot days56days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights14nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,619base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation65.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 42 °F 61°42° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 50 °F 69°50° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 57 °F 75°57° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 65 °F 82°65° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 72 °F 87°72° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 74 °F 89°74° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 73 °F 89°73° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 70 °F 86°70° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.58 in precipitation 5.6 JanFebruary: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 FebMarch: 5.15 in precipitation 5.2 MarApril: 5.38 in precipitation 5.4 AprMay: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 6.01 in precipitation 6.0 JunJuly: 7.44 in precipitation 7.4 JulAugust: 7.59 in precipitation 7.6 AugSeptember: 6.43 in precipitation 6.4 SepOctober: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pensacola Forest Sherman NAS, FL (9 mi away); precipitation: Pensacola 18.9 Wsw, FL (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9a.

325069a
Pensacola, FL · 5 mi
365309a
Elberta, AL · 6 mi
365749a
Seminole, AL · 6 mi
325079a
Pensacola, FL · 7 mi
325099a
Pensacola, FL · 8 mi
325269a
Pensacola, FL · 8 mi
325089a
Pensacola, FL · 9 mi
325129a
Pensacola, FL · 9 mi

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 36549

What planting zone is ZIP code 36549?

ZIP code 36549 (Lillian, AL) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Lillian, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 36549 is February 28; after March 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pensacola Forest Sherman NAS station.

When is the first frost in Lillian, AL?

The median first fall frost near 36549 is November 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 277 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 36549?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 3 – Jan 17 and set transplants outside around Mar 7 – Mar 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 36549 get?

About 65.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pensacola 18.9 Wsw station).

How hot do summers get in Lillian, AL?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 56 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 36549 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lakeland at the center of ZIP 36549: loamy fine sand, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Lillian, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 36549 came on Jan 16 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lillian, AL?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 36549 is 14 h 07 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.