Frost dates for ZIP 78021 (Fowlerton, 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, Fowlerton, TX (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)266 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Y Bar Ranch West, 8 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 82°, Fri 75°.
4-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Y Bar Ranch West, 8 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 82°, Fri 78°.
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 78021 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 73°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 18 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 30–Oct 21
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 21
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 28
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 11
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 11
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 25: 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 4 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 24 |
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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 14 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 14 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 3 | Nov 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 18 | Dec 4 |
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 78021
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 3) and first fall frost (Nov 25). 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 6–20 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 6–20 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 6–20 | Feb 10–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 3–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 21 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 20–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 6–20 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 6–20 | Feb 3–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 9–23 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 6–20 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Feb 17–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 27–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 6–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 9–23 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 20–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 9–23 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 24–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 3–10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 3–10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 3–10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 3–10 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 3–10 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 9–23 | Mar 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (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 3 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Fowlerton, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00413299), elevation 300 ft, 4.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilden 4 SSE, TX | 18 mi | Feb 13 | Dec 3 |
| Cross, TX | 20 mi | Mar 8 | Nov 17 |
| Cotulla La Salle Co AP, TX | 24 mi | Feb 11 | Dec 3 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 28 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78021
When is the last frost in 78021?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78021 is March 3. For a more cautious planting date, use March 24, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78021?
The average first fall freeze is November 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 6.
What hardiness zone is 78021?
ZIP 78021 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 78021 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
78072 Tilden 78014 Cotulla 78007 78011 Charlotte 78026 Jourdanton 78001 78017 Dilley 78012 Christine
Other ZIP codes in La Salle County
78001 78014 All La Salle County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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