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Birmingham, Alabama · vegetable planting calendar
What to plant now in Birmingham, Alabama
This month's sowing list for Birmingham, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.
October
18 vegetables to sow or plant now
15 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around March 22, and frost is unlikely after about April 9.
Quick, easy wins this month: bok choy, radish, arugula, scallions, cilantro and Swiss chard.
Sow or plant in Birmingham in October
Start seeds indoors
Nothing this month.
Direct sow
- Arugula
- Beets
- Bok choy
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Radish
- Scallions
- Spinach
- Swiss chard
- Turnip
- Peas
- Carrot Late
Transplant
- Chives
- Garlic
- Kale
- Parsley
- Broccoli
Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time. Late ones give only a short harvest.
Last month to start: beets, bok choy, broccoli, carrot, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.
Ready to pick in October
- Arugula
- Basil
- Beets
- Bell pepper
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Bush beans
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Hot pepper
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Pole beans
- Radish
- Runner beans
- Scallions
- Strawberry
- Sweet corn
- Sweet potato
- Swiss chard
- Tomato
- Turnip
- Watermelon
- Winter squash
- Zucchini
Coming up in November
Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.
When to plant the favourites in Birmingham
Tomatoes
Start seeds indoors: March to June.
Transplant: April to August.
Best time to start: April to July.
Pick: June to October.
First pick about 15 weeks after starting.
Potatoes
Plant: March to April.
Best time to start: March.
Pick: May to July.
First pick about 10 weeks after starting.
Garlic
Plant: October to December.
Best time to start: October to December.
Pick: April to July.
First pick about 24 weeks after starting.
Lettuce
Direct sow: January to April and September to October.
Best time to start: January to April and September to October.
Pick: April to May and October to January.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Carrots
Direct sow: January to April and September to October.
Best time to start: January to April and September.
Pick: April to June and October to January.
First pick about 9 weeks after starting.
Bush beans
Direct sow: April to August.
Best time to start: April to August.
Pick: June to October.
First pick about 6 weeks after starting.
Onions
Start seeds indoors: December to February.
Transplant: January to April.
Best time to start: January to April.
Pick: May to July.
First pick about 20 weeks after starting.
Strawberries
Plant: January to April.
Best time to start: January to April.
Pick: June to October.
First pick about 15 weeks after starting.
Winter squash
Start seeds indoors: March to July.
Direct sow: April to July.
Transplant: April to July.
Best time to start: April to July.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 12 weeks after starting.
Zucchini
Start seeds indoors: March to August.
Direct sow: April to August.
Transplant: April to September.
Best time to start: April to August.
Pick: May to October.
First pick about 6 weeks after starting.
The planting year in Birmingham
- Start seeds indoors
- Direct sow
- Transplant
- Pick
- Paler: possible, but not the best time
| Vegetable | O | N | D | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | First pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | |||||
| Basil | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 6 weeks | |||||
| Beets | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||
| Bell pepper | T | T | P | P | P | P | P | about 15 weeks | |||||
| Bok choy | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | ||
| Broccoli | P | T | P | P | P | T | P | about 13 weeks | |||||
| Brussels sprouts | T | T | P | P | about 17 weeks | ||||||||
| Bush beans | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Cabbage | T | P | P | P | P | T | P | about 14 weeks | |||||
| Cantaloupe | T | S | S | S | P | about 9 weeks | |||||||
| Carrot | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | ||||||
| Cauliflower | T | P | T | P | about 17 weeks | ||||||||
| Celeriac | T | P | about 24 weeks | ||||||||||
| Celery | T | T | P | P | P | about 21 weeks | |||||||
| Chives | P | T | S | S | S | S | T | S | about 8 weeks | ||||
| Cilantro | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Cucumber | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 6 weeks | |||||
| Dill | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Eggplant | T | T | P | P | P | P | about 17 weeks | ||||||
| Fava beans | S | about 14 weeks | |||||||||||
| Garlic | P | P | P | about 24 weeks | |||||||||
| Hot pepper | T | T | P | P | P | P | P | about 17 weeks | |||||
| Kale | S | S | S | S | S | T | S | about 7 weeks | |||||
| Leek | T | P | P | P | P | T | P | about 20 weeks | |||||
| Lettuce | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||
| Okra | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||||
| Onion | T | P | P | P | P | about 20 weeks | |||||||
| Parsley | S | T | S | S | S | S | T | S | about 8 weeks | ||||
| Parsnip | S | S | S | S | about 13 weeks | ||||||||
| Peas | S | S | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||
| Pole beans | S | S | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | |||||||
| Potato | P | P | about 10 weeks | ||||||||||
| Radish | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | ||||
| Runner beans | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||||||
| Rutabaga | S | about 15 weeks | |||||||||||
| Scallions | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | ||
| Spinach | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||||
| Strawberry | P | P | P | P | about 15 weeks | ||||||||
| Sweet corn | T | S | S | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | ||||||
| Sweet potato | P | P | P | about 11 weeks | |||||||||
| Swiss chard | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||
| Tomato | T | P | P | P | P | P | about 15 weeks | ||||||
| Turnip | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||
| Watermelon | T | S | S | S | P | about 9 weeks | |||||||
| Winter squash | T | S | S | S | S | about 12 weeks | |||||||
| Zucchini | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 6 weeks |
The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.
Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: Brussels sprouts and parsnip.
Birmingham season by season
Spring March to May
Time to start: basil, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, okra, pole beans, potato, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Last chance for: arugula, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, parsnip, peas, potato, radish, spinach, strawberry and turnip.
Summer June to August
Time to start: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chives, kale, leek, parsley, runner beans and Swiss chard.
Last chance for: bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, eggplant, hot pepper, leek, okra, pole beans, runner beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, Swiss chard, tomato, watermelon and winter squash.
Fall September to November
Time to start: arugula, beets, carrot, cilantro, dill, garlic, leek, lettuce, parsnip, peas, radish, spinach and turnip.
Last chance for: arugula, basil, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumber, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, peas, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip and zucchini.
Winter December to February
Time to start: arugula, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chives, cilantro, dill, eggplant, fava beans, hot pepper, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, parsnip, peas, radish, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.
Last chance for: cauliflower, celeriac, fava beans, garlic and rutabaga.
Frost in Birmingham
- Last frost, most years
- around March 22
- Frost is unlikely after
- about April 9
- First frost, most years
- around November 6
- Frost-free days in a year
- about 229
The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.
Questions about planting in Birmingham
What can I plant now in Birmingham?
In October, 18 vegetables can be sown or planted in Birmingham, including arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, carrot, chives, cilantro and dill. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.
When should I plant tomatoes in Birmingham?
In Birmingham, sow tomatoes indoors from March to June and transplant them from April to August. The best time to start is from April to July. Picking runs from June to October.
When should I plant potatoes in Birmingham?
In Birmingham, plant potatoes from March to April. The best time to start is in March. Picking runs from May to July.
When should I plant garlic in Birmingham?
In Birmingham, plant garlic from October to December. The best time to start is from October to December. Picking runs from April to July.
When is the last frost in Birmingham?
In most years the last frost in Birmingham comes around March 22. Frost is unlikely after about April 9, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 6.
Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Birmingham?
The quick ones are bok choy (about 4 weeks), radish (about 4 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), basil (about 6 weeks), bush beans (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks) and cucumber (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.
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These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Birmingham. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).