Dothan, AL Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Dothan, Alabama.
Gardening in Dothan
The Peanut Capital of the World grows more than legumes. Southeast Alabama's Wiregrass region has deep agricultural roots, and Dothan's home gardens reflect that productive tradition.
Zone 8b with 255 frost-free days — one of the longest seasons in Alabama. The red sandy loam of the Wiregrass is well-drained and productive with amendment. The proximity to Florida means the climate leans subtropical.
The National Peanut Festival celebrates Dothan's signature crop, but home gardens grow the full range of Southern vegetables. The growing season is long enough to support two full rounds of warm-season crops.
What This Means for Dothan Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Dothan is around March 5, and the average first fall frost arrives around November 15. That gives you approximately 255 frost-free days to work with.
That's a generous season. You have time for full-size tomatoes, long-season peppers, and even watermelons without the anxiety of racing the frost. Start warm-season seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost to hit the ground running. Fall planting is your second opportunity — garlic, kale, lettuce, and broccoli all go in 8-10 weeks before your first frost for harvest into late autumn.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Dothan area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Dothan
Dothan's 255-day growing season is generous — long enough for two full growing windows (spring and fall) with warm-season crops between them. You can grow the full range of vegetables, herbs, and flowers with proper timing. Focus on heat-tolerant varieties for midsummer and cool-season crops for extended fall harvests. Recommended starting points: tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, squash, garlic, kale, and sunflowers.
See the full Alabama planting guide for all 40 plants: Alabama Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Dothan.
More About Zone 8B
Dothan is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8B, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between 15°F to 20°F. View the full Zone 8B planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Alabama: Alabama Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Alabama
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Dothan area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Dothan (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
Cool-season crops go in 3-4 weeks before your last frost (March 5). Warm-season crops wait until 2 weeks after. You have time for a fall round too — plant cool-season crops again in late summer for harvest into autumn. Enter your zip code for exact dates.