When to plant tomatoes in Alabama

Plant out in Huntsville

Mar 31–Apr 14

Across Alabama the window opens between February 28 and April 11. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Huntsville: Jan 27–Feb 10
Plant out, Huntsville: Mar 31–Apr 14
Last sowing for a harvest: Aug 1
Last frost, Huntsville: Mar 24

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

HuntsvilleMar 31–Apr 14

MobileFeb 28–Mar 14

BirminghamMar 28–Apr 11

MontgomeryMar 11–Mar 25

TuscaloosaMar 25–Apr 8

HooverMar 26–Apr 9

AuburnMar 20–Apr 3

DothanMar 8–Mar 22

MadisonMar 31–Apr 14

DecaturApr 2–Apr 16

FlorenceApr 3–Apr 17

PrattvilleMar 20–Apr 3

Phenix CityMar 12–Mar 26

Vestavia HillsMar 28–Apr 11

OpelikaApr 5–Apr 19

AlabasterMar 19–Apr 2

AthensMar 27–Apr 10

GadsdenMar 26–Apr 9

NorthportMar 25–Apr 8

DaphneMar 22–Apr 5

EnterpriseMar 16–Mar 30

FoleyMar 12–Mar 26

HomewoodMar 28–Apr 11

TrussvilleApr 11–Apr 25

FairhopeMar 17–Mar 31

PelhamMar 26–Apr 9

BessemerMar 30–Apr 13

AlbertvilleMar 24–Apr 7

HelenaMar 26–Apr 9

OxfordMar 30–Apr 13

All 33 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Huntsville	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Mar 24
Mobile	Dec 27 to Jan 10	Feb 28 to Mar 14	Feb 21
Birmingham	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Mar 28 to Apr 11	Mar 21
Montgomery	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Mar 4
Tuscaloosa	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Mar 25 to Apr 8	Mar 18
Hoover	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Mar 19
Auburn	Jan 16 to Jan 30	Mar 20 to Apr 3	Mar 13
Dothan	Jan 4 to Jan 18	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Mar 1
Madison	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Mar 24
Decatur	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Mar 26
Florence	Jan 30 to Feb 13	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Mar 27
Prattville	Jan 16 to Jan 30	Mar 20 to Apr 3	Mar 13
Phenix City	Jan 8 to Jan 22	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Mar 5
Vestavia Hills	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Mar 28 to Apr 11	Mar 21
Opelika	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 5 to Apr 19	Mar 29
Alabaster	Jan 15 to Jan 29	Mar 19 to Apr 2	Mar 12
Athens	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Mar 27 to Apr 10	Mar 20
Gadsden	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Mar 19
Northport	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Mar 25 to Apr 8	Mar 18
Daphne	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Mar 22 to Apr 5	Mar 15
Enterprise	Jan 12 to Jan 26	Mar 16 to Mar 30	Mar 9
Foley	Jan 8 to Jan 22	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Mar 5
Homewood	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Mar 28 to Apr 11	Mar 21
Trussville	Feb 7 to Feb 21	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 4
Fairhope	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Mar 17 to Mar 31	Mar 10
Pelham	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Mar 19
Bessemer	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Mar 30 to Apr 13	Mar 23
Albertville	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Mar 24 to Apr 7	Mar 17
Helena	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Mar 19
Oxford	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Mar 30 to Apr 13	Mar 23
Mountain Brook	Jan 24 to Feb 7	Mar 28 to Apr 11	Mar 21
Anniston	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Mar 30 to Apr 13	Mar 23
Cullman	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Mar 31

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Alabama?

In Huntsville, plant out from March 31 to April 14. Across Alabama the window opens between February 28 and April 11, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Alabama

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Alabama