Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 76872 (Rochelle, 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, Brady, TX (18 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)244 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 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
61°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 58°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Sloan Ranch San Saba (25 mi), Mason Wildlife Management Area (34 mi), RBar Menard (37 mi).
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 63°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Sloan Ranch San Saba (25 mi), Mason Wildlife Management Area (34 mi), RBar Menard (37 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 76872 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°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 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 20–Oct 18
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 15: 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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 14 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 6 |
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 30 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 15 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 31 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 14 | Nov 15 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 4 | Nov 27 |
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 76872
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 14) and first fall frost (Nov 15). 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 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 3–17 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 3–17 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (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 20–Oct 11 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 3–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 3–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Feb 28–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 7–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (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 23–Sep 6 (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 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 14–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (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 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (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 6–Oct 4 (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: Brady, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00411017), elevation 1,711 ft, 17.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Saba 7NW, TX | 23 mi | Mar 16 | Nov 13 |
| Brownwood 2ENE, TX | 30 mi | Mar 22 | Nov 10 |
| Goldthwaite 1 WSW, TX | 34 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 76872
When is the last frost in 76872?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 76872 is March 14. For a more cautious planting date, use April 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 76872?
The average first fall freeze is November 15. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 30.
What hardiness zone is 76872?
ZIP 76872 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 76872 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
76871 Richland Springs 76827 76873 76852 76887 76825 Brady 76878 Santa Anna 76823 Bangs
Other ZIP codes in McCulloch County
76825 76836 76852 76887 All McCulloch County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.