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Frost dates and planting calendar for Austin, Texas

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

USDA hardiness zone
9a[1]
Median last spring frost
Feb 20[2]
Median first fall frost
Dec 3[3]
Growing season, median
291 days[4]

The 2023 USDA hardiness zone map puts the center of Austin in zone 9a[1]. At the Austin-Camp Mabry station, the median last spring frost is February 20, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Jan 23, half of years Feb 20, 1 in 10 years after Mar 14Last frostmedian Feb 20First frostmedian Dec 3Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Jan 23 to Feb 6Jan 23 to Feb 6Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Feb 6 to Feb 20Feb 6 to Feb 20TenderTender vegetables: plant around Feb 20around Feb 20Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Mar 6from Mar 6
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 Austin-Camp Mabry weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after February 20, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after March 14[2]. In fall, the first frost comes before December 3 in half of years and before November 15 in 1 of 10 years[3]. These are chances, not promises. Any year can be earlier or later.

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after January 23 after February 20 after March 14
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 15 before December 3 before January 1
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date February 1, median first fall date December 27[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 258 days in 9 of 10 years, 291 days in half of years and 326 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 99.4% of years and 28°F or colder in 87.6% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Austin-Camp Mabry (USW00013958), 1.6 miles from the city center, 670 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension groups vegetables by how much cold they can take, and its guide was written for Colorado[6]. GardenFacts applies those rules to the Austin median last frost of February 20[6]. Hardy crops such as lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as January 23 to February 6[6]. Semi-hardy crops such as beets, carrots and potatoes can go in as early as February 6, up to February 20[9]. Tender crops such as snap beans and sweet corn go in from seed around February 20[10], and very tender crops such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks, with March 6 as the earliest start[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (February 20) is January 23 to February 6[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (February 20) is February 6, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, February 20[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (February 20), is March 6[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Jan 23 Mar 29 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Jan 23 Apr 18 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Jan 23 Mar 14
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Jan 23 Mar 24
Onions (hardy)[12] Jan 23 May 13
Peas (hardy)[12] Jan 23 Mar 29
Radishes (hardy)[12] Jan 23 Feb 22
Spinach (hardy)[12] Jan 23 Mar 4
Turnips (hardy)[12] Jan 23 Mar 14
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 6 Apr 7
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 6 Apr 17
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 6 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 6 Apr 17
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 6 Jun 11
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 6 Apr 7
Snap beans (tender)[12] Feb 20 Apr 21
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Feb 20 Apr 21
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Feb 20 Apr 16
Summer squash (tender)[12] Feb 20 Apr 11
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Mar 6 May 30
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Mar 6 May 5 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Mar 6 May 15 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Mar 6 May 10 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Mar 6 Jun 14
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Mar 6 May 30
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 9a means an average coldest winter night of 20°F to 25°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is about winter lows, not summer heat or frost dates[14]. By land area, 99% of Austin lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 9a and 1% in areas rated zone 8b[15].

Zone 9a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 20°F to 25°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 23.4°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 9a 99%, zone 8b 1%[15].

All towns in zone 9a and what zone 9a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
78744[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78724[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78730[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78735[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78759[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78745[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78617[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78748[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78750[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78746[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78753[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78749[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78717[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78754[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78758[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78739[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78726[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78704[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78731[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78741[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78727[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78719[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78729[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78723[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78653[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78747[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78703[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78702[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78757[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78732[15] 9a 20 to 25°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Austin, Texas?
The center of Austin is in USDA zone 9a on the 2023 map[1]. By land area, 1% of the city lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b[15].
When is the last frost in Austin?
At the Austin-Camp Mabry station, the median last spring frost is February 20[2]. In 1 of 10 years the last frost comes after March 14[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Austin?
Colorado State University Extension says very tender crops like tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[11]. For Austin the earliest start is March 6[11].
When is the first frost in Austin?
In half of years the first fall frost comes before December 3[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before November 15[3].
How long is the growing season in Austin?
In half of years Austin has at least 291 days between the last spring and first fall frost[4]. In 9 of 10 years it has at least 258 days[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Austin, Texas in zone 9a. Zone 9a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 20°F to 25°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 23.4°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 January 23, in half of years after February 20, and in 1 of 10 years after March 14 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is February 20. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 15, in half of years before December 3, and in 9 of 10 years before January 1 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is December 3. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 258 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 291 days in half of years, and at least 326 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Austin-Camp Mabry weather station (USW00013958), 1.6 miles from the center of Austin at 670 feet, using 30 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 February 1 and the median first fall date is December 27. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 99.4% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 87.6% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  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. Austin, Texas overlaps 40 ZIP code areas. By land area, 99% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 9a, 1% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b. 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.