Frost dates for ZIP 78402 (Corpus Christi, 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, Corpus Christi, TX (6 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 88% 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 2850% 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)331 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone10a30 to 35°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 72°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of RB Farms Inc (20 mi), LaRosa Ranch Refugio (31 mi), Kingsville (34 mi).
4-inch depth
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of RB Farms Inc (20 mi), LaRosa Ranch Refugio (31 mi), Kingsville (34 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 78402 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 76°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 8 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
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- 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
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- 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 16 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 28 |
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 26 (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 16 | Dec 5 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 8 | Dec 30 |
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 78402
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 28) 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 3–17 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 3–17 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 3–17 | Jan 7–28 (transplant) Dec 31–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 16 (transplant) Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 17–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 28 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 5–19 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 17–31 | Jan 14–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 24–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 5–19 | Dec 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 17–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 5–19 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 9–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 17–31 (transplant) | Nov 9–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 5–19 | Feb 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 17–31 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (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 January 28 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Corpus Christi, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00012924), elevation 45 ft, 6.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi NWS, TX | 6 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 22 |
| Corpus Christi Cabaniss Fld, TX | 11 mi | Jan 15 | Dec 30 |
| C C Botanical Gardens, TX | 13 mi | Jan 29 | Dec 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78402
When is the last frost in 78402?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78402 is January 28. For a more cautious planting date, use February 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78402?
The average first fall freeze is December 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 25.
What hardiness zone is 78402?
ZIP 78402 is in USDA zone 10a (30 to 35°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 78402 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
78407 Corpus Christi 78408 Corpus Christi 78401 Corpus Christi 78409 Corpus Christi 78405 Corpus Christi 78404 Corpus Christi 78416 Corpus Christi 78406 Corpus Christi
Other ZIP codes in Nueces County
78330 78339 78343 78347 78351 78373 78380 78401 78404 78405 78406 78407 78408 78409 78410 78411 78412 78413 78414 78415 78416 78417 78419 All Nueces County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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