When to plant peppers in Alabama

Plant out in Huntsville

Apr 7–Apr 21

Across Alabama the window opens between March 7 and April 18. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Huntsville: Jan 13–Jan 27
Plant out, Huntsville: Apr 7–Apr 21
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 27
Last frost, Huntsville: Mar 24

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Peppers germinate slowly. A heat mat under the seed tray speeds them up.

Peppers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

HuntsvilleApr 7–Apr 21

MobileMar 7–Mar 21

BirminghamApr 4–Apr 18

MontgomeryMar 18–Apr 1

TuscaloosaApr 1–Apr 15

HooverApr 2–Apr 16

AuburnMar 27–Apr 10

DothanMar 15–Mar 29

MadisonApr 7–Apr 21

DecaturApr 9–Apr 23

FlorenceApr 10–Apr 24

PrattvilleMar 27–Apr 10

Phenix CityMar 19–Apr 2

Vestavia HillsApr 4–Apr 18

OpelikaApr 12–Apr 26

AlabasterMar 26–Apr 9

AthensApr 3–Apr 17

GadsdenApr 2–Apr 16

NorthportApr 1–Apr 15

DaphneMar 29–Apr 12

EnterpriseMar 23–Apr 6

FoleyMar 19–Apr 2

HomewoodApr 4–Apr 18

TrussvilleApr 18–May 2

FairhopeMar 24–Apr 7

PelhamApr 2–Apr 16

BessemerApr 6–Apr 20

AlbertvilleMar 31–Apr 14

HelenaApr 2–Apr 16

OxfordApr 6–Apr 20

All 33 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Huntsville	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Mar 24
Mobile	Dec 13 to Dec 27	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Feb 21
Birmingham	Jan 10 to Jan 24	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Mar 21
Montgomery	Dec 24 to Jan 7	Mar 18 to Apr 1	Mar 4
Tuscaloosa	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Mar 18
Hoover	Jan 8 to Jan 22	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Mar 19
Auburn	Jan 2 to Jan 16	Mar 27 to Apr 10	Mar 13
Dothan	Dec 21 to Jan 4	Mar 15 to Mar 29	Mar 1
Madison	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Mar 24
Decatur	Jan 15 to Jan 29	Apr 9 to Apr 23	Mar 26
Florence	Jan 16 to Jan 30	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Mar 27
Prattville	Jan 2 to Jan 16	Mar 27 to Apr 10	Mar 13
Phenix City	Dec 25 to Jan 8	Mar 19 to Apr 2	Mar 5
Vestavia Hills	Jan 10 to Jan 24	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Mar 21
Opelika	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Mar 29
Alabaster	Jan 1 to Jan 15	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Mar 12
Athens	Jan 9 to Jan 23	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Mar 20
Gadsden	Jan 8 to Jan 22	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Mar 19
Northport	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Mar 18
Daphne	Jan 4 to Jan 18	Mar 29 to Apr 12	Mar 15
Enterprise	Dec 29 to Jan 12	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Mar 9
Foley	Dec 25 to Jan 8	Mar 19 to Apr 2	Mar 5
Homewood	Jan 10 to Jan 24	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Mar 21
Trussville	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 4
Fairhope	Dec 30 to Jan 13	Mar 24 to Apr 7	Mar 10
Pelham	Jan 8 to Jan 22	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Mar 19
Bessemer	Jan 12 to Jan 26	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 23
Albertville	Jan 6 to Jan 20	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Mar 17
Helena	Jan 8 to Jan 22	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Mar 19
Oxford	Jan 12 to Jan 26	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 23
Mountain Brook	Jan 10 to Jan 24	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Mar 21
Anniston	Jan 12 to Jan 26	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 23
Cullman	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31

Questions

When should I plant peppers in Alabama?

In Huntsville, plant out from April 7 to April 21. Across Alabama the window opens between March 7 and April 18, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Alabama

Peppers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Alabama