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Frost dates and planting calendar for Amarillo, Texas

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
7a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 13[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 27[3]
Growing season, median
195 days[4]

The center of Amarillo is in USDA hardiness zone 7a[1]. The median last spring frost at the Amarillo weather station is April 13[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 29, half of years Apr 13, 1 in 10 years after Apr 29Last frostmedian Apr 13First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 8, half of years Oct 27, 1 in 10 years before Oct 14First frostmedian Oct 27Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 13around Apr 13Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 27from Apr 27
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Amarillo weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 13, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 29[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 27, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 14[3]. These are chances from past records and not promises, so any year can be earlier or later[2][3].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 29 after April 13 after April 29
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 14 before October 27 before November 8
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 2, median first fall date November 5[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 176 days in 9 of 10 years, 195 days in half of years and 217 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Amarillo (USW00023047), 7.4 miles from the city center, 3,587 feet, 27 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension's planting guide was written for Colorado[6]. GardenFacts used the median last frost, April 13, as the average last frost in CSU's rules[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that date, which is March 16 to March 30[6]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be sown from seed around April 13[9]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically go in 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so the earliest start is April 27[10].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 13) is March 16 to March 30[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 13) is March 30, up to the median date itself[11]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 13[9]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 13), is April 27[10]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 20 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 16 Jun 9 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 5
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 15
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 16 Jul 4
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 20
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 16 Apr 15
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 16 Apr 25
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 16 May 5
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 May 29
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 Jun 8
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 Jun 8
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 Aug 2
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 30 May 29
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 12
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 12
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 7
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 13 Jun 2
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Jul 21
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Jun 26 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Jul 6 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Jul 1 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Aug 5
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 27 Jul 21
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 7a means the coldest night of the year averages 0°F to 5°F, based on the 2023 USDA map and records from 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is about winter lows. It does not describe summer heat or frost dates[14]. By land area, 100% of Amarillo lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a[15].

Zone 7a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 0°F to 5°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 3.4°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 7a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 7a and what zone 7a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
79107[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79118[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79109[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79111[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79108[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79106[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79124[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79119[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79110[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79103[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79104[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79102[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79121[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
79101[15] 7a 0 to 5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Amarillo, Texas?
The center of Amarillo is in USDA zone 7a on the 2023 map[1].
When is the last frost in Amarillo?
The median last spring frost is April 13, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 29[2].
When is the first frost in Amarillo?
The median first fall frost is October 27, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 14[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Amarillo?
CSU Extension typically puts tomatoes 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, which makes April 27 the earliest start here[10]. CSU's guide was written for Colorado[10].
How long is the growing season in Amarillo?
The season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 195 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 176 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Amarillo, Texas in zone 7a. Zone 7a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 3.4°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after March 29, in half of years after April 13, and in 1 of 10 years after April 29 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 13. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 14, in half of years before October 27, and in 9 of 10 years before November 8 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 27. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 176 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 195 days in half of years, and at least 217 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Amarillo weather station (USW00023047), 7.4 miles from the center of Amarillo at 3,587 feet, using 27 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 2 and the median first fall date is November 5. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Amarillo, Texas overlaps 14 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.