When to Plant Tomatoes in Alabama
In Alabama, the time to transplant tomatoes outside runs from Feb 28 – Mar 14 in Mobile to Apr 11 – Apr 25 in Trussville. In Huntsville, it's Mar 31 – Apr 14. The average last spring frost differs by about 6 weeks across the state (Feb 21 in Mobile, Apr 4 in Trussville), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.
- Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 1–3 weeks after the last frost.
Tomatoes planting dates in Alabama by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabaster | 8b | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Albertville | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Anniston | 8a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Athens | 8a | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Auburn | 8b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Bessemer | 8a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Birmingham | 8a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Calera | 8b | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Chelsea | 8b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Cullman | 8a | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Daphne | 9a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Decatur | 8a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Dothan | 9a | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Enterprise | 8b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Fairhope | 9a | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Florence | 8a | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Foley | 9a | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Gadsden | 8a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Gulf Shores | 9a | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Helena | 8a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Homewood | 8b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Hoover | 8a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Huntsville | 8a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Madison | 8a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Millbrook | 8b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Mobile | 9a | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Montgomery | 8b | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Mountain Brook | 8b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Muscle Shoals | 8a | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Northport | 8b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Opelika | 8a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Oxford | 8a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Pelham | 8b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Phenix City | 8b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Prattville | 8b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Prichard | 9a | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Troy | 8b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Trussville | 8a | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| Tuscaloosa | 8b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Vestavia Hills | 8b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Alabama, or the general guide to when to plant tomatoes.
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