Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 78076 (Zapata, 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, Zapata 1 S, TX (9 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 77% of years (about 4 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostJan 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)341 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 78076 (Zapata)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 78076, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- 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.
This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
75°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Rancho Las Comitas (34 mi), Duval County Park (59 mi).
4-inch depth
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 75°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Rancho Las Comitas (34 mi), Duval County Park (59 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 78076 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 Feb 27 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 13–Nov 10
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 29–Oct 27
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 29–Oct 27
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 13–Nov 10
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 27–Nov 17
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 17
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 27–Nov 10
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 24
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 27–Nov 10
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 27–Nov 10
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 27–Nov 10
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
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 17 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 25 |
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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 22 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 27 (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 9 | Dec 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 19 | Dec 22 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 5 | 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 78076
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 19) and first fall frost (Dec 22). 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 | Nov 24–Dec 8 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 10–24 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 10–24 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 24–Dec 8 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 24–Dec 8 | Dec 29–Jan 19 (transplant) Dec 22–Feb 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 17 (transplant) Oct 13–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 24–Dec 8 | Dec 22–Jan 5 (transplant) Dec 22–Jan 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (transplant) Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 24–Dec 8 | Dec 22–Jan 19 (transplant) Dec 22–Jan 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (transplant) Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 10–24 | Dec 22–Jan 5 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 10–24 | Dec 22–Jan 5 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 10–24 | Jan 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 27–Nov 10 | Dec 22–Jan 5 (transplant) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 24–Dec 8 | Dec 22–Jan 5 (transplant) Dec 22–Jan 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 22–Jan 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 22–Jan 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 22–Jan 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 8–22 | Jan 5–26 (transplant) Jan 5–Feb 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 22–Jan 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 29–Jan 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 15–Jan 26 (sow outdoors) | Nov 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 22–Jan 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 29–Jan 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 24–Dec 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 27–Nov 10 | Dec 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 8–Jan 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 27–Nov 10 | Dec 22–Jan 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 10–Dec 8 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 8–22 (transplant) | Nov 10–Dec 8 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 22–Jan 5 (transplant) | Sep 1–15 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 22–29 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 22–29 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 22–29 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 22–29 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) Feb 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 22–29 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) Feb 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 8–22 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) Feb 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 27–Nov 10 | Jan 26–Feb 2 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 8–22 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 5–Feb 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 10–24 | Jan 5–19 (transplant) Dec 29–Jan 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 19–Feb 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 19–Feb 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 22–Jan 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 22–Jan 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 22–Jan 5 (transplant) | Oct 13–Nov 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 January 19 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Zapata 1 S, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00419976), elevation 320 ft, 8.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falcon Dam, TX | 26 mi | Jan 9 | Jan 1 (next year) |
| Hebbronville, TX | 39 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 12 |
| Bruni, TX | 39 mi | Jan 30 | Dec 18 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 26 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78076
When is the last frost in 78076?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78076 is January 19. For a more cautious planting date, use February 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78076?
The average first fall freeze is December 22. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 28.
What hardiness zone is 78076?
ZIP 78076 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 78076 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
78564 Lopeño 78067 San Ygnacio 78360 Guerra 78545 Falcon Village 78361 Hebbronville 78584 Roma 78585 78369 Mirando City
Other ZIP codes in Zapata County
78067 78564 All Zapata County frost dates · Texas frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- 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.