Frost dates for ZIP 76651 (Italy, 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, Bardwell Dam, TX (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)256 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
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of City of Alvarado (25 mi), Aquilla Water Supply District (26 mi), Blum ISD Farm (29 mi).
4-inch depth
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of City of Alvarado (25 mi), Aquilla Water Supply District (26 mi), Blum ISD Farm (29 mi).
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 76651 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 69°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). 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 23 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
- Lettuce: fall transplant Sep 26–Oct 17
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 26–Oct 17
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 26–Oct 24
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 21: 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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 1 |
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) | Nov 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 21 |
| 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 23 | Nov 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 8 | Nov 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 24 | Dec 3 |
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 76651
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 8) and first fall frost (Nov 21). 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 11–25 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 11–25 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 11–25 | Feb 15–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 8–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 17 (transplant) Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 14–28 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 1–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 14–28 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 14–28 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 1–15 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 8–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 8–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 8–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 8–15 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 8–15 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 14–28 | Mar 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (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 8 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Bardwell Dam, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00410518), elevation 461 ft, 14.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waxahachie, TX | 17 mi | Mar 16 | Nov 16 |
| Hillsboro, TX | 18 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 10 |
| Navarro Mills Dam, TX | 19 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 14 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 76651
When is the last frost in 76651?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 76651 is March 8. For a more cautious planting date, use April 1, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 76651?
The average first fall freeze is November 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 3.
What hardiness zone is 76651?
ZIP 76651 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 76651 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
76041 76623 76670 Milford 76626 Blooming Grove 76666 Mertens 76641 Frost 75101 Bardwell 76628
Other ZIP codes in Ellis County
75101 75119 75125 75152 75154 75165 75167 76041 76064 76065 76623 76670 All Ellis County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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