When to Plant in Mobile, AL

Mobile's planting calendar is driven by measured frost dates: the median last spring frost is February 28 and the median first fall frost is November 29, giving approximately 274 frost-free days. These dates set safe windows for frost-sensitive transplants and index when to expect freezes or the first hard autumn chill. Use November 29 as the key after which warm-season crops can be moved outdoors; use November 29 as the deadline to protect or harvest vulnerable crops before frost. The 274 frost-free days allow multiple warm-season plantings and extended harvests for many vegetables and ornamentals.

Mobile sits in a humid subtropical (long, humid summers) microclimate that favors heat-loving, moisture-tolerant crops and stresses cool-season and disease-prone plants. Crops that excel include tomatoes, okra, and sweet potatoes because warm temperatures and long summers promote vigorous growth and multiple plantings. Peppers and eggplant also perform well when given afternoon shade and consistent irrigation. Crops that struggle include lettuce and broccoli: they bolt or suffer tip burn and fungal problems in prolonged heat and high humidity, and cool-season brassicas often decline quickly once temperatures climb. High humidity increases leaf wetness and fungal disease pressure, so choose resistant varieties, improve air circulation, and time plantings to avoid peak summer heat for marginal cool-season crops.

What to plant now in Mobile

Spring: transplant warm-season seedlings such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra and sweet potatoes outdoors only after February 28 or once nighttime lows stay steadily above freezing and plants are hardened off properly.
Summer: direct-sow beans, southern peas, okra, sweet corn, and second tomato plantings; protect seedlings during heat spikes and water deeply to offset humid subtropical (long, humid summers) evapotranspiration stress.
Fall: plant fall leafy greens, carrots, beets, and brassicas several weeks before November 29 so they establish before the first fall frost; use row cover as nights approach the November 29 threshold.
Winter: focus on cool-season crops like kale, collards, and winter lettuce; start seeds indoors in January and plan spring transplants to go out after February 28 when frost risk has passed.

In Mobile (274 frost-free days, a very long season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.

Month by month in Mobile

Month	What to do
January	Start seeds indoors for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants; prune dormant fruit trees, order seed potatoes, and test soil pH. Monitor winter rains and plan irrigation adjustments for the humid subtropical (long, humid summers) season ahead.
February	Watch the frost transition: the median last spring frost is February 28. Harden off transplants late in month and avoid outdoor planting of frost-sensitive crops until after February 28 has passed.
March	After February 28, transplant tomatoes and peppers if nights are consistently frost-free. Direct-sow beans and corn in March; mulch to conserve moisture as temperatures rise into the humid subtropical growing season.
April	Continue planting warm-season crops and start sweet potatoes in well-drained beds. Watch for spring fungal issues as humidity increases; space plants for airflow and apply mulch to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.
May	Plant successive corn, okra, beans, and cucumbers. Irrigate deeply during dry spells and monitor for pests that thrive in humid subtropical (long, humid summers) conditions; use integrated pest practices and beneficial insects.
June	Manage heat stress on young transplants; provide afternoon shade for peppers and tomatoes if extreme heat occurs. Keep consistent watering schedules and scout for bacterial or fungal diseases favored by warm, humid conditions.
July	July is peak heat; maintain deep, early-morning irrigation and heavy mulches. Consider fall crop planning now—starting broccoli or lettuce indoors in July gives you transplants for a fall window before November 29.
August	Start fall brassicas and late-season leafy greens indoors to transplant later. Reduce nitrogen on late tomatoes to slow excessive foliage; watch for nematodes and fungal diseases that worsen in humid subtropical (long, humid summers).
September	Transplant fall broccoli, cabbage, and kale; begin harvesting late-season tomatoes and peppers. Plan staggered plantings of greens to mature before the first fall frost on November 29 and protect young plants from heavy rain.
October	Thin and harvest summer crops; transplant remaining fall brassicas so they establish well before November 29. Begin clearing spent beds and adding compost to beds for winter fertility and soil structure.
November	Prepare for the frost transition: the median first fall frost is November 29. Harvest tender crops, cover or lift containers, mulch perennials, and protect late tomatoes and peppers before November 29 arrives.
December	Maintain winter greens such as collards and kale; mulch beds and protect cold-sensitive tropicals. Use December for planning seed orders and garden layout adjustments for the next season after February 28.

Frost dates for Mobile ZIP codes

ZIP	Last spring frost (50%)	First fall frost (50%)	Zone
36695	February 28	November 29	9a
36605	February 28	November 29	9a

FAQ

When is the last frost in Mobile?

The median last spring frost in Mobile is February 28. Use February 28 as your local benchmark: delay planting frost-sensitive transplants like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant outdoors until after February 28 to avoid freeze damage.

What vegetables grow best in Mobile?

Warm-season and heat-tolerant crops perform best in Mobile's humid subtropical (long, humid summers) environment. Tomatoes, okra, sweet potatoes, peppers, and eggplant thrive with long warmth and adequate moisture. Long frost-free seasons (274 days) allow multiple plantings and long harvest windows for these crops. Maintain good air circulation and disease-resistant varieties to counter humidity-driven fungal pressure, and mulch to conserve moisture and prevent soil splash that spreads pathogens.

When should I plant tomatoes in Mobile?

Plan to transplant tomatoes outdoors only after the median last spring frost, February 28. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks earlier, harden off seedlings carefully, and set plants out after nights stay reliably above freezing, using mulch and consistent watering in Mobile's humid subtropical (long, humid summers). Stagger plantings for summer and fall harvests, and avoid planting new transplants during peak summer heat spikes without shade and irrigation.

Can I garden year-round in Mobile?

Yes: Mobile's 274 frost-free days and humid subtropical (long, humid summers) microclimate permit nearly year-round production of various crops. Warm-season vegetables occupy spring through fall; cool-season greens, collards, and certain root crops grow through mild winter months. However, high summer heat and humidity stress cool-season crops and increase disease pressure, so plan timing: establish cool-season brassicas in fall and winter, and favor heat-tolerant varieties in summer. Use shade for sensitive plants, improve air circulation, and apply mulches and drip irrigation to manage moisture and disease risks.

How does Plan My Garden help Mobile gardeners?

Plan My Garden uses your precise frost dates—median last spring frost February 28 and median first fall frost November 29—to create planting windows, tailored crop schedules, and reminders for cover and harvest. The site translates the 274 frost-free days and humid subtropical (long, humid summers) conditions into specific recommendations: when to start seeds indoors, when to transplant, which heat-tolerant or disease-resistant varieties to choose, and how to sequence successive plantings. It also provides month-by-month tasks tuned to Mobile’s seasonality, pest and disease cautions for high humidity, and advice on mulching, irrigation timing, and protection before the November 29 frost threshold; all tools are designed to reduce trial-and-error and increase successful harvests in this particular climate.