Frost dates for ZIP 77971 (Lolita, 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, Pt Comfort, TX (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)321 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°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
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 75°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of STXRR Camp Williams (38 mi), Port Aransas 32 NNE (41 mi), Bobadoo Ranch (42 mi).
4-inch depth
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 78°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of STXRR Camp Williams (38 mi), Port Aransas 32 NNE (41 mi), Bobadoo Ranch (42 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 77971 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 77°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically October to early November).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- St. Augustinegrass (warm-season): Spring: About 2–3 weeks after full green-up (May in the Carolinas; earlier in Florida and south Texas) (about Mar 12 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Light feedings June–August where local rules allow; Last: No later than about mid-September in the Carolinas, about 6–8 weeks before first frost elsewhere. Avoid: Feeding before green-up or late in fall (feeds weeds and favors large patch and cold injury).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 9
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 26–Nov 16
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 16
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 23
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | Dec 24 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 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) | Nov 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 18 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 22 | Dec 3 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 1 | Dec 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 21 | Jan 1 (next year) |
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 77971
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 1) and first fall frost (Dec 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 | Dec 7–21 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 7–21 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 7–21 | Jan 11–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 4–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 16 (transplant) Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 21–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 7–21 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 7–21 | Jan 4–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 9–23 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 7–21 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 28–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 11–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 7–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 9–23 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 9–23 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 9–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | Nov 9–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 4–11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 4–11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 4–11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 4–11 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 4–11 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 9–23 | Feb 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 11–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Oct 12–Nov 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 February 1 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Pt Comfort, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00417140), elevation 20 ft, 12.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palacios Muni AP, TX | 18 mi | Feb 1 | Dec 17 |
| Danevang 1 W, TX | 23 mi | Feb 15 | Dec 8 |
| Victoria Rgnl AP, TX | 24 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 9 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 77971
When is the last frost in 77971?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 77971 is February 1. For a more cautious planting date, use March 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 77971?
The average first fall freeze is December 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 25.
What hardiness zone is 77971?
ZIP 77971 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 77971 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
77970 La Ward 77991 Vanderbilt 77969 77961 77978 Point Comfort 77962 Ganado 77979 Port Lavaca 77419 Blessing
Other ZIP codes in Jackson County
77957 77961 77962 77969 77970 77991 All Jackson County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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