Gainesville Lock, AL Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Gainesville Lock garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 19
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 8
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
234 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 8a
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Feb 26 Mar 19 Apr 8
First fall frost Nov 29 Nov 8 Oct 28
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 2 · first Nov 22

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the GAINESVILLE LOCK station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Gainesville Lock

Computed from Gainesville Lock's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-8 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Jan 22 – Feb 5 Mar 26 – Apr 2
🫑 Peppers Jan 8 – Jan 22 Apr 2 – Apr 9
🥬 Lettuce Feb 5 – Feb 19 Feb 19 – Mar 5 Feb 19 – Mar 19
🫛 Peas Feb 5 – Feb 19
🥕 Carrots Feb 26 – Mar 19
🥦 Broccoli Jan 29 – Feb 12 Feb 26 – Mar 12
🥬 Kale Feb 5 – Feb 19 Feb 19 – Mar 5 Feb 19 – Mar 5
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 19 – Feb 26 Mar 26 – Apr 2 Mar 26 – Apr 2
🥒 Zucchini Feb 19 – Feb 26 Mar 26 – Apr 2 Mar 26 – Apr 2
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 26 – Apr 2
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 26 – Apr 2
🌿 Basil Feb 5 – Feb 19 Mar 26 – Apr 2 Apr 2 – Apr 9
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 27 – Oct 25

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Gainesville Lock's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Gainesville Lock

With roughly 234 frost-free days, Gainesville Lock gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 8 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Gainesville Lock, AL?

The average last spring frost in Gainesville Lock is around Mar 19, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Gainesville Lock, AL?

The average first fall frost in Gainesville Lock arrives around Nov 8. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Gainesville Lock?

About 234 frost-free days on average, from Mar 19 to Nov 8. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Gainesville Lock in?

USDA zone 8a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.