When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Alabama
Alabama gardeners get one real shot at fall spinach: early to mid September, once the soil has cooled below 80 degrees F, counting back 50 to 75 days…
Gardening in Alabama
Everything we have worked out for Alabama: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Huntsville, the last spring freeze runs March 19 to April 3 and the first fall freeze runs November 2 to November 16, USDA zones 7a-9a, 5,449 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 13 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Alabama: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Alabama?
Yes, and for two separate reasons that hit at almost the same time. Around Huntsville and across most of Alabama, long summer daylight pushes spinach…
When to Sow Pumpkins in Alabama
Alabama’s sowing window isn’t fixed to a date on the calendar. It’s set by two separate clocks: a soil thermometer that has to clear 65°F before seed…
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Alabama?
Yes, but only if the flowers open in time. Alabama’s first fall frost typically lands between November 2 and November 16, and a pumpkin needs 45 to 55…
When to Sow Parsnips in Alabama
In north Alabama, aim to sow parsnip seed directly in the garden between late February and mid-March, roughly two to three weeks ahead of the last spring…
Will Parsnips Sweeten in Alabama?
Near the Huntsville reference station, Alabama’s coldest month averages a nightly low of 33.1°F, a hair above freezing, not a sustained plunge below it.
Growing Spinach in Alabama: When Will It Bolt?
In and around Huntsville, spring-sown spinach typically starts bolting by late April to mid-May, once daytime highs climb past the mid-70s and daylight…
When to Sow Carrots in Alabama: Counting Back From the Last Frost
Carrots go into Alabama ground while it’s still cool, sown directly where they’ll grow, several weeks ahead of the local last frost date, since that date…
Will Carrots Fork in Alabama Soil?
Alabama’s state soil, the sandy, well-drained Bama series, gives carrots a fighting chance at growing straight where it’s found.
When to Sow Beets in Alabama
In most of Alabama, sow beet seed directly in the ground two to three weeks before the last spring frost, which the reference weather station places…