Mobile, AL Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Feb 21
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Dec 6
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
288 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
9a
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Jan 25 Feb 21 Mar 15
First fall frost Jan 5 Dec 6 Nov 15
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Feb 2 · first Dec 30

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Mobile Dwtn Airport station (8 km from central Mobile). "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 Mobile

Computed from Mobile's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-9 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Dec 27 – Jan 10 Feb 28 – Mar 7
🫑 Peppers Dec 13 – Dec 27 Mar 7 – Mar 14
🥬 Lettuce Jan 10 – Jan 24 Jan 24 – Feb 7 Jan 24 – Feb 21
🫛 Peas Jan 10 – Jan 24
🥕 Carrots Jan 31 – Feb 21
🥦 Broccoli Jan 3 – Jan 17 Jan 31 – Feb 14
🥬 Kale Jan 10 – Jan 24 Jan 24 – Feb 7 Jan 24 – Feb 7
🥒 Cucumbers Jan 24 – Jan 31 Feb 28 – Mar 7 Feb 28 – Mar 7
🥒 Zucchini Jan 24 – Jan 31 Feb 28 – Mar 7 Feb 28 – Mar 7
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Feb 28 – Mar 7
🌽 Sweet Corn Feb 28 – Mar 7
🌿 Basil Jan 10 – Jan 24 Feb 28 – Mar 7 Mar 7 – Mar 14
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 25 – Nov 22

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 Mobile's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Mobile

With roughly 288 frost-free days, Mobile 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 Dec 6 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Mobile, AL?

The average last spring frost in Mobile is around Feb 21, 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 Mobile, AL?

The average first fall frost in Mobile arrives around Dec 6. 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 Mobile?

About 288 frost-free days on average, from Feb 21 to Dec 6. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Mobile in?

USDA zone 9a 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.