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Frost dates and planting calendar for Dallas, Texas

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

USDA hardiness zone
8b[1]
Median last spring frost
Mar 2[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 29[3]
Growing season, median
272 days[4]

Dallas sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b[1]. Based on NOAA records, the median last spring frost is March 2[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Feb 10, half of years Mar 2, 1 in 10 years after Mar 19Last frostmedian Mar 2First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Dec 18, half of years Nov 29, 1 in 10 years before Nov 10First frostmedian Nov 29Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Feb 2 to Feb 16Feb 2 to Feb 16Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Feb 16 to Mar 2Feb 16 to Mar 2TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 2around Mar 2Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Mar 16from Mar 16
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.

Frost dates here come from NOAA climate normals for the Dallas Love Field weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. They are chances, not promises. In half of years the last spring frost comes after March 2, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after March 19[2]. In the fall, the first frost comes before November 29 in half of years and before November 10 in 1 of 10 years[3]. Any year can be earlier or later than these dates.

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after February 10 after March 2 after March 19
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 10 before November 29 before December 18
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date February 18, median first fall date December 12[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 246 days in 9 of 10 years, 272 days in half of years and 299 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 98.8% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Dallas Love Field (USW00013960), 6.6 miles from the city center, 440 feet, 29 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

The planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension, and its guide was written for Colorado[6]. GardenFacts applied those rules to the Dallas median last frost of March 2[6]. Hardy vegetables like broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as February 2 to February 16[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables like beets, carrots and potatoes can go in as early as February 16, up to March 2[9]. Tender vegetables like snap beans and sweet corn go in from seed around March 2[10], and very tender vegetables like tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, with March 16 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 (March 2) is February 2 to February 16[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 2) is February 16, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 2[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 2), is March 16[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Feb 2 Apr 8 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Feb 2 Apr 28 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Feb 2 Mar 24
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Feb 2 Apr 3
Onions (hardy)[12] Feb 2 May 23
Peas (hardy)[12] Feb 2 Apr 8
Radishes (hardy)[12] Feb 2 Mar 4
Spinach (hardy)[12] Feb 2 Mar 14
Turnips (hardy)[12] Feb 2 Mar 24
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 16 Apr 17
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 16 Apr 27
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 16 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 16 Apr 27
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 16 Jun 21
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 16 Apr 17
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 2 May 1
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 2 May 1
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 2 Apr 26
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 2 Apr 21
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Mar 16 Jun 9
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Mar 16 May 15 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Mar 16 May 25 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Mar 16 May 20 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Mar 16 Jun 24
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Mar 16 Jun 9
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 8b means the coldest winter night averaged 15°F to 20°F over 1991 to 2020 on the USDA map[1]. The zone is about winter cold only. It does not tell you frost dates or summer heat[14]. By land area, all of Dallas lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b[15].

Zone 8b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 15°F to 20°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 18.5°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8b 100%[15].

All towns in zone 8b and what zone 8b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
75217[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75241[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75211[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75216[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75236[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75253[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75229[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75227[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75220[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75228[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75212[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75243[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75232[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75215[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75248[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75214[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75230[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75218[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75235[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75237[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75247[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75238[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75208[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75224[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75287[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75231[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75249[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75252[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75203[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
75206[15] 8b 15 to 20°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Dallas, Texas?
The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Dallas in zone 8b[1]. By land area, 100% of the city lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b[15].
When is the last frost in Dallas?
At the Dallas Love Field station, the median last spring frost is March 2[2]. In 1 of 10 years the last frost comes after March 19[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Dallas?
CSU Extension says very tender vegetables like tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[11]. For Dallas the earliest start in the GardenFacts calculation is March 16[11].
When is the first frost in Dallas?
The median first fall frost is November 29[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 10[3].
How long is the growing season in Dallas?
In half of years the growing season is at least 272 days, and in 9 of 10 years it is at least 246 days[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Dallas, Texas in zone 8b. Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 15°F to 20°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 18.5°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 February 10, in half of years after March 2, and in 1 of 10 years after March 19 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 2. 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 10, in half of years before November 29, and in 9 of 10 years before December 18 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 29. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 246 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 272 days in half of years, and at least 299 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Dallas Love Field weather station (USW00013960), 6.6 miles from the center of Dallas at 440 feet, using 29 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 18 and the median first fall date is December 12. 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 98.8% 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. Dallas, Texas overlaps 40 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% 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.