Frost dates for ZIP 78542 (Linn, 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, Edinburg 17 NNE, TX (7 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 78% 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 2150% 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)338 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
79°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Edinburg 17 NNE, 7 mi away.
4-inch depth
80°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 77°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Edinburg 17 NNE, 7 mi away.
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 78542 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 80°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 1 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
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 29–Nov 12
- 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
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 29–Nov 12
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 29–Nov 12
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 29–Nov 12
- 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 11 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 21 |
| 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 23 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 23 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 1 (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 8 | Dec 5 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 21 | Dec 23 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 4 | 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 78542
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 21) 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 | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 12–26 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 12–26 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Dec 31–Jan 21 (transplant) Dec 24–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 18 (transplant) Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) Dec 24–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Dec 24–Jan 21 (transplant) Dec 24–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 12–26 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 12–26 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 12–26 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 29–Nov 12 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) Dec 24–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 24–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 24–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 25 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 24–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 10–24 | Jan 7–28 (transplant) Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 24–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 17–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 24–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 26–Dec 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 29–Nov 12 | Dec 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 10–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 29–Nov 12 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 11–Dec 9 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 10–24 (transplant) | Nov 11–Dec 9 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | Sep 2–16 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 24–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 24–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 24–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 24–31 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 24–31 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 29–Nov 12 | Jan 28–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 10–24 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 12–26 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 24–Jan 7 (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 21 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Edinburg 17 NNE, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00012987), elevation 64 ft, 6.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Manuel, TX | 9 mi | Jan 25 | Jan 1 (next year) |
| Mccook, TX | 9 mi | Jan 22 | Dec 19 |
| Edinburg, TX | 10 mi | Jan 8 | Jan 2 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78542
When is the last frost in 78542?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78542 is January 21. 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 78542?
The average first fall freeze is December 23. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 23.
What hardiness zone is 78542?
ZIP 78542 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 78542 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
78549 Harding Gill Tract 78538 Monte Alto 78540 78543 La Blanca 78558 La Blanca 78561 Lasara 78541 Edinburg 78539 Edinburg
Other ZIP codes in Hidalgo County
78501 78503 78504 78516 78537 78538 78539 78540 78541 78543 78549 78557 78558 78560 78562 78563 78565 78570 78572 78573 78574 78576 78577 78579 All Hidalgo County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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