Frost dates for ZIP 76502 (Temple, TX)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Stillhouse Hollow Dam, TX (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)251 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station City of Troy, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 79°, Fri 77°.
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station City of Troy, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 78°, Fri 77°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 76502 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 74°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: South Central plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Apr 29 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 25–Oct 23
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 20: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 22 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 14 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 4 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 9 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 14 | Nov 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 1 | Dec 1 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 76502
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 14) and first fall frost (Nov 20). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 17–31 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 3–17 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 3–17 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 17–31 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 17–31 | Feb 21–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 14–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 3–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 3–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Feb 28–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 7–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 14–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 14–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 14–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 14–21 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 14–21 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Mar 21–28 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Texas A&M AgriLife trials name plants that handle Texas conditions: the Texas Superstar® list and the low-care roses from AgriLife trials. Plant frost-tender annuals after March 14 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Stillhouse Hollow Dam, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00418646), elevation 706 ft, 8.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen, TX | 17 mi | Mar 14 | Nov 17 |
| Mcgregor, TX | 23 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 18 |
| Granger Dam, TX | 27 mi | Mar 5 | Nov 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 76502
When is the last frost in 76502?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 76502 is March 14. For a more cautious planting date, use April 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 76502?
The average first fall freeze is November 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 76502?
ZIP 76502 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 76502 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
76504 Temple 76513 Belton 76554 Little River-Academy 76501 Temple 76579 Troy 76559 Nolanville 76557 Moody 76543 Killeen
Other ZIP codes in Bell County
76501 76504 76511 76513 76534 76541 76542 76543 76548 76549 76554 76557 76559 76569 76571 76579 All Bell County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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