When Is the Last Frost in Texas?
The average last spring frost in Texas falls between February 2 and April 1 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of March 10. At the average date a later frost is still a coin flip, so tender plants wait for the safer 90% date.
| City | Last frost | 90% safe after | First frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | Feb 2 | Mar 5 | Dec 25 | 327 days |
| San Antonio | Feb 25 | Mar 19 | Nov 28 | 277 days |
| Dallas | Mar 2 | Mar 19 | Nov 29 | 272 days |
| Fort Worth | Mar 5 | Mar 25 | Nov 24 | 264 days |
| Austin | Feb 20 | Mar 14 | Dec 3 | 291 days |
| El Paso | Mar 2 | Mar 19 | Nov 20 | 261 days |
| Arlington | Mar 9 | Mar 28 | Nov 21 | 256 days |
| Corpus Christi | Jan 22 | Mar 3 | Jan 4 | 362 days |
| Plano | Mar 7 | Mar 29 | Nov 21 | 259 days |
| Lubbock | Mar 24 | Apr 15 | Nov 11 | 233 days |
| Laredo | Jan 20 | Feb 26 | Dec 25 | 344 days |
| Amarillo | Apr 15 | Apr 29 | Oct 29 | 196 days |
| Brownsvillefrost in <50% of winters | Jan 9 | Mar 1 | Jan 4 | 365 days |
| Denton | Mar 13 | Mar 31 | Nov 20 | 251 days |
| Killeen | Mar 14 | Apr 4 | Nov 17 | 247 days |
| Pasadena | Jan 30 | Mar 1 | Dec 28 | 330 days |
| McAllenfrost in <50% of winters | Jan 9 | Feb 12 | Jan 1 | 365 days |
| Waco | Mar 9 | Apr 4 | Nov 20 | 256 days |
Last and first frost: 50% (median) dates of the last spring and first fall 32 °F night. 90% safe after: only a 10% chance of a later spring frost. First frost dates in January fall in the following winter. Each city uses the NOAA station nearest the ZIP code closest to its center.
Across all 476 Texas weather stations with frost records, median last frost dates run from January 3 at Port Isabel, TX to April 28 at Dalhart 6 SW, TX. Elevation, valleys that collect cold air and distance from large water bodies explain most of the spread, so a garden a few miles from a listed city can differ by a week or more. The ZIP code lookup above uses the same NOAA data as the frost date calculator for every US ZIP code.
When Is the First Frost in Texas?
The average first fall frost in Texas arrives between November 5 and December 17 for most ZIP codes, with a median of November 20. Tomatoes, peppers, basil and squash are damaged at 32 °F, so harvest or cover them before then.
Fall frost can come early: Houston has a 10% chance of frost before November 27, San Antonio has a 10% chance of frost before November 7 and Dallas has a 10% chance of frost before November 10. Hardy crops such as kale, spinach and cabbage tolerate light frosts and keep producing after the first frost date.
When to Plant Tomatoes in Texas?
Transplant tomatoes in Texas 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Feb 9 – Feb 16 in Houston, Mar 4 – Mar 11 in San Antonio and Mar 9 – Mar 16 in Dallas. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
| City | Start seeds indoors | Transplant outdoors | Lowest-risk transplant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Feb 9 – Feb 16 | after Mar 5 |
| San Antonio | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 4 – Mar 11 | after Mar 19 |
| Dallas | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 9 – Mar 16 | after Mar 19 |
| Fort Worth | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 12 – Mar 19 | after Mar 25 |
| Austin | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | after Mar 14 |
| El Paso | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 9 – Mar 16 | after Mar 19 |
| Arlington | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | after Mar 28 |
| Corpus Christi | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Jan 29 – Feb 5 | after Mar 3 |
| Plano | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 21 | after Mar 29 |
| Lubbock | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | after Apr 15 |
| Laredo | Nov 25 – Dec 9 | Jan 27 – Feb 3 | after Feb 26 |
| Amarillo | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | after Apr 29 |
| Brownsville | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Jan 16 – Jan 23 | after Mar 1 |
| Denton | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Mar 27 | after Mar 31 |
| Killeen | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | after Apr 4 |
| Pasadena | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | after Mar 1 |
| McAllen | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Jan 16 – Jan 23 | after Feb 12 |
| Waco | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | after Apr 4 |
Indoors: 6–8 weeks before the average last frost. Outdoors: 1–2 weeks after it. Lowest-risk: after the date with only a 10% chance of a later frost. Rules of thumb; check the 10-day forecast and wait for soil near 60 °F.
Tomatoes stall below about 50 °F at night and are killed by frost, so a week or two of waiting after the average date costs little. The tomato plant care guide covers light, watering and feeding once plants are in the ground. In frost-free or rare-frost areas such as Brownsville and McAllen, summer heat limits tomatoes more than frost: flowers often drop without setting fruit when nights stay above about 75 °F, so gardeners there typically plant in late winter and again for a fall crop.
What Can You Plant in Houston and When?
Houston's average last frost of February 2 anchors its spring planting calendar: peas and spinach go in from December 22, broccoli and lettuce transplants from January 5, and tomatoes, peppers and squash after February 9.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Frost tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peas | — | Dec 22 – Jan 5direct sow, 4–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Spinach | — | Dec 22 – Jan 12direct sow, 3–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Radishes | — | Dec 29 – Jan 12direct sow, 3–5 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Onions (sets) | — | Jan 5 – Jan 19plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 5 – Jan 19plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Broccoli & cabbage | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Jan 5 – Jan 19transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Lettuce | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Jan 5 – Jan 19transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Beets | — | Jan 5 – Jan 19direct sow, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Carrots | — | Jan 12 – Jan 19direct sow, 2–3 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Tomatoes | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Feb 9 – Feb 16transplant, 1–2 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Basil | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Feb 9 – Feb 23transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Peppers | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | Feb 16 – Feb 23transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Eggplant | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | Feb 16 – Feb 23transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Green beans | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Sweet corn | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Cucumbers | Jan 5 – Jan 12 | Feb 9 – Feb 23transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Squash & zucchini | Jan 5 – Jan 12 | Feb 9 – Feb 23transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Watermelon | Jan 5 – Jan 12 | Feb 16 – Feb 23transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
Dates for Houston (last frost Feb 2, NOAA station Houston-Port, TX, 6 miles from ZIP 77009). General rules of thumb; wait for soil near 50 °F for most seeds and 60 °F for beans, corn and squash.
How Long Is the Growing Season in Texas?
The frost-free growing season in Texas lasts about 218 to 319 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 254 days. Among the listed cities, Amarillo has the shortest season at 196 days and McAllen the longest at 365.
Season length decides which varieties ripen: compare it with the “days to maturity” on seed packets, counted from transplanting for tomatoes and peppers. NOAA stations in Texas range from 170 days at Dalhart 6 SW, TX to 365 days at Edinburg, TX. Planning beds before the season starts helps in short seasons — a plant spacing calculator for vegetable beds shows how many transplants fit.
What Hardiness Zones Are in Texas?
Texas spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 10b, with zone 8b the most common. Zones describe winter cold and decide which perennials survive, while frost dates set when to plant annual vegetables and flowers.
The Texas planting zone map with the zone of each city shows how the zones are spread across the state and which plants are hardy in all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the last frost in Texas?
- The average last spring frost in Texas falls between February 2 and April 1 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of March 10. Among major cities it ranges from January 9 in Brownsville to April 15 in Amarillo.
- When is the last frost in Houston, Texas?
- Houston's average last spring frost is February 2, and by March 5 the chance of a later frost drops to 10%. Its first fall frost averages December 25, giving a 327-day growing season (NOAA station Houston-Port, TX).
- When should you plant tomatoes in Texas?
- Transplant tomatoes in Texas 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Feb 9 – Feb 16 in Houston, Mar 4 – Mar 11 in San Antonio and Mar 9 – Mar 16 in Dallas. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
- When is the first frost in Texas?
- The average first fall frost in Texas arrives between November 5 and December 17 for most ZIP codes, with a median of November 20. Harvest tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers and basil before then or cover them on cold nights.
- How long is the growing season in Texas?
- The frost-free growing season in Texas lasts about 218 to 319 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 254 days, from 196 days in Amarillo to 365 days in McAllen.
Frost data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (32 °F freeze dates by probability). ZIP code and city locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. Planting windows are general rules of thumb. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.