Frost dates for ZIP 78661 (Caldwell County, 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, Luling, TX (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)263 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
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 76°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Baker Ranch, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 83°, Fri 80°.
4-inch depth
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 77°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Baker Ranch, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 83°, Fri 81°.
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 78661 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 77°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically September to early October).
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 20 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 28–Oct 19
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 28–Oct 19
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 28–Oct 26
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 23: 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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 5 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 3 |
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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 23 |
| 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 22 | Nov 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 5 | Nov 23 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 17 | Dec 6 |
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 78661
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 5) and first fall frost (Nov 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 | Jan 8–22 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 8–22 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 8–22 | Feb 12–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 5–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 19 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 22–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 11–25 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 8–22 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 29–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 11–25 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 11–25 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 3–17 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 5–12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 5–12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 5–12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 11–25 | Mar 12–19 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (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 5 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Luling, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00415429), elevation 400 ft, 6.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos, TX | 16 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 29 |
| Austin San Antonio, TX | 16 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 26 |
| New Braunfels WFO, TX | 16 mi | Feb 25 | Nov 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78661
When is the last frost in 78661?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78661 is March 5. For a more cautious planting date, use April 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78661?
The average first fall freeze is November 23. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 3.
What hardiness zone is 78661?
ZIP 78661 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 78661 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
78622 78638 Kingsbury 78670 Staples 78648 Luling 78655 Martindale 78644 Lockhart 78658 78656 San Marcos
Other ZIP codes in Caldwell County
78616 78622 78644 78648 78655 78656 All Caldwell County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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