GardenFacts

All states › Texas › Georgetown

Frost dates and planting calendar for Georgetown, 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 6[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 24[3]
Growing season, median
259 days[4]

The center of Georgetown, Texas is in USDA hardiness zone 8b[1]. The median last spring frost is March 6[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Feb 13, half of years Mar 6, 1 in 10 years after Mar 30Last frostmedian Mar 6First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Dec 10, half of years Nov 24, 1 in 10 years before Nov 5First frostmedian Nov 24Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Feb 6 to Feb 20Feb 6 to Feb 20Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Feb 20 to Mar 6Feb 20 to Mar 6TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 6around Mar 6Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Mar 20from Mar 20
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 dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Georgetown Lake weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after March 6, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after March 30[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before November 24, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before November 5[3]. These are odds from past years, not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after February 13 after March 6 after March 30
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 5 before November 24 before December 10
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date February 23, median first fall date December 5[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 231 days in 9 of 10 years, 259 days in half of years and 289 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 99.7% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Georgetown Lake (USC00413507), 1.4 miles from the city center, 874 feet, 23 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its planting guide for Colorado, so the groups are a starting point here[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which works out to February 6 to February 20[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as beets, carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost, from February 20 up to the median date[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can start from seed around March 6[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically start 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so the earliest start is March 20[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (March 6) is February 6 to February 20[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 6) is February 20, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 6[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 6), is March 20[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Feb 6 Apr 12 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Feb 6 May 2 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Feb 6 Mar 28
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Feb 6 Apr 7
Onions (hardy)[12] Feb 6 May 27
Peas (hardy)[12] Feb 6 Apr 12
Radishes (hardy)[12] Feb 6 Mar 8
Spinach (hardy)[12] Feb 6 Mar 18
Turnips (hardy)[12] Feb 6 Mar 28
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 20 Apr 21
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 20 May 1
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 20 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 20 May 1
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 20 Jun 25
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 20 Apr 21
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 6 May 5
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 6 May 5
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 6 Apr 30
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 6 Apr 25
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Mar 20 Jun 13
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Mar 20 May 19 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Mar 20 May 29 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Mar 20 May 24 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Mar 20 Jun 28
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Mar 20 Jun 13
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 night of the winter averages 15°F to 20°F, based on 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is about winter lows, not summer heat or frost dates[14]. Georgetown is not all one zone. By land area, 69% lies in ZIP code areas rated 9a and 31% in areas rated 8b[15].

Zone 8b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 15°F to 20°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 19.6°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 9a 69%, zone 8b 31%[15].

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

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
78626[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78628[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78633[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
78681[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
78665[15] 9a 20 to 25°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Georgetown, Texas?
The center of Georgetown is in zone 8b on the 2023 USDA map[1]. By land area, 69% of the city lies in ZIP code areas rated 9a[15].
When is the last frost in Georgetown?
The median last spring frost is March 6, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after March 30[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Georgetown?
CSU Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. Using the median last frost, the earliest start is March 20[11].
When is the first frost in Georgetown?
The median first fall frost is November 24, so in half of years it comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before November 5[3].
How long is the growing season in Georgetown?
The growing season is at least 259 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 231 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Georgetown, 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 19.6°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 13, in half of years after March 6, and in 1 of 10 years after March 30 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 6. 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 5, in half of years before November 24, and in 9 of 10 years before December 10 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 24. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 231 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 259 days in half of years, and at least 289 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Georgetown Lake weather station (USC00413507), 1.4 miles from the center of Georgetown at 874 feet, using 23 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 23 and the median first fall date is December 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 99.7% 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. Georgetown, Texas overlaps 5 ZIP code areas. By land area, 69% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 9a, 31% 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.