Frost dates for ZIP 78669 (Briarcliff, 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, Austin 33 NW, TX (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)274 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Austin 33 NW, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Wed 81°, Thu 80°, Fri 71°.
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Austin 33 NW, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Wed 80°, Thu 80°, Fri 76°.
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 78669 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 72°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
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 17 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 sowing Sep 20–Oct 18
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 4–25
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 4–25
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 29: 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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 2 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 20 |
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 10 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 19 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 14 | Nov 18 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 2 | Nov 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 16 | Dec 13 |
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 78669
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 2) and first fall frost (Nov 29). 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 5–19 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 9–30 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 9–30 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 5–19 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 5–19 | Feb 9–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 2–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–25 (transplant) Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 19–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 5–19 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) Feb 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 5–19 | Feb 2–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 8–22 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 5–19 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) Feb 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 26–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 5–Feb 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 8–22 | Jan 19–Feb 2 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 19–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 8–22 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 18–Nov 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 19–Feb 2 (transplant) | Oct 18–Nov 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 23–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 2–9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 2–9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 2–9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 2–9 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 2–9 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 8–22 | Mar 9–16 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (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 2 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Austin 33 NW, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00023907), elevation 1,361 ft, 12.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dripping Springs 6 E, TX | 17 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 13 |
| Johnson City 2N, TX | 20 mi | Mar 22 | Nov 9 |
| Austin Great Hills, TX | 21 mi | Mar 11 | Nov 20 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 20 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78669
When is the last frost in 78669?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78669 is March 2. For a more cautious planting date, use March 20, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78669?
The average first fall freeze is November 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 10.
What hardiness zone is 78669?
ZIP 78669 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 78669 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
78645 Lago Vista 78654 Marble Falls 78734 Lakeway 78663 Round Mountain 78738 Bee Cave 78732 Steiner Ranch 78641 Leander 78620 Dripping Springs
Other ZIP codes in Travis County
78617 78641 78645 78652 78653 78660 78701 78702 78703 78704 78705 78712 78719 78721 78722 78723 78724 78725 78726 78727 78728 78730 78731 78732 All Travis County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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