Frost dates for ZIP 78368 (San Patricio, 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, Mathis 4 SSW, TX (7 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 89% of years (about 5 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 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)328 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
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 73°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station RB Farms Inc, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 81°, Fri 79°.
4-inch depth
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station RB Farms Inc, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 81°, Fri 79°.
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 78368 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 76°F at 4 inches. 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 11 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 14–Nov 11
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 14–Nov 11
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 28–Nov 18
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 18
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 25
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
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 22 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 31 |
| 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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 23 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 28 (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 21 | Dec 4 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 31 | Dec 23 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 13 | Jan 2 (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 78368
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 31) and first fall frost (Dec 23). 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 6–20 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 6–20 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 6–20 | Jan 10–31 (transplant) Jan 3–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 18 (transplant) Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 20–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–31 (transplant) Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 8–22 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 25 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 17–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 27–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 8–22 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 8–22 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 11–Dec 9 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Nov 11–Dec 9 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 2–16 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 3–10 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 3–10 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 8–22 | Feb 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (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 31 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Mathis 4 SSW, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00415661), elevation 138 ft, 6.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinton, TX | 17 mi | Feb 1 | Dec 17 |
| Welder Wildlife Foundation, TX | 23 mi | Feb 24 | Dec 1 |
| Robstown, TX | 24 mi | Jan 26 | Dec 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 29 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78368
When is the last frost in 78368?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78368 is January 31. 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 78368?
The average first fall freeze is December 23. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 28.
What hardiness zone is 78368?
ZIP 78368 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 78368 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
78391 Tynan 78383 Sandy Hollow-Escondidas 78352 Edroy 78389 Skidmore 78387 Morgan Farm 78370 Odem 78372 Westdale 78102 Beeville
Other ZIP codes in San Patricio County
78336 78352 78359 78362 78370 78374 78387 78390 All San Patricio County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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