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

Planting zone for 36577 — Spanish Fort, AL

ZIP code 36577 (Spanish Fort, Baldwin County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is March 15 and the first fall frost November 19.

Where ZIP 36577 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostMar 15
First frostNov 19
2012 zone8b

Was 8b 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 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Spanish Fort, 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 Spanish Fort, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 19median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season251 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 28 and returns around December 3.

From the NOAA station Fairhope 3 Ne, AL — 9 miles away, elevation 95 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 36577

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
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 15) 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 36577 came on Jan 16 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 27).

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 9a in Alabama

582 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Alabama, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 84

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 133

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 178

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 162

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 Spanish Fort, AL.

Soil in Spanish Fort, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 36577 is Johnston — loamy sand, very poorly drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.75%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Wet loamy alluvial land.

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 36577; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Spanish Fort, AL

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low39 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights30nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,191base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation67 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 39 °F 61°39° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 70 °F 87°70° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 72 °F 89°72° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.37 in precipitation 5.4 JanFebruary: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 FebMarch: 5.67 in precipitation 5.7 MarApril: 5.44 in precipitation 5.4 AprMay: 6.67 in precipitation 6.7 MayJune: 6.60 in precipitation 6.6 JunJuly: 6.94 in precipitation 6.9 JulAugust: 6.64 in precipitation 6.6 AugSeptember: 5.60 in precipitation 5.6 SepOctober: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Fairhope 3 Ne, AL (9 mi away); precipitation: Daphne 1.2 Nnw, AL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9a.

365279a
Spanish Fort, AL · 3 mi
365269a
Daphne, AL · 5 mi
365599a
Montrose, AL · 7 mi
366029a
Mobile, AL · 8 mi
366019a
Mobile, AL · 8 mi
366289a
Mobile, AL · 8 mi
366449a
Mobile, AL · 8 mi
366759a
Mobile, AL · 8 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Spanish Fort → · Alabama planting zones →

Questions about 36577

What planting zone is ZIP code 36577?

ZIP code 36577 (Spanish Fort, 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 Spanish Fort, AL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 36577 is March 15; after April 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fairhope 3 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Spanish Fort, AL?

The median first fall frost near 36577 is November 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 251 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 36577?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 18 – Feb 1 and set transplants outside around Mar 22 – Apr 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 36577 get?

About 67 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Daphne 1.2 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Spanish Fort, AL?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 47 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 36577 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Johnston at the center of ZIP 36577: loamy sand, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Spanish Fort, AL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 36577 came on Jan 16 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Spanish Fort, AL?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 36577 is 14 h 08 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 36577 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 36577 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.