Frost dates for ZIP 78744 (Austin, 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 Bergstrom AP, TX (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)252 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
71°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 71°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Pecan Grove Farms, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 83°, Fri 77°.
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Pecan Grove Farms, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 84°, 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 78744 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 74°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 27 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 21–Oct 19
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 16: 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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 12 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 2 |
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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 16 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 5 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 27 | Nov 7 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 12 | Nov 16 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 27 | Dec 1 |
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 78744
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 12) and first fall frost (Nov 16). 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 15–29 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 1–15 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 1–15 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 15–29 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 15–29 | Feb 19–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (transplant) Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 5–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 12–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 12–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Mar 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (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 12 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Austin Bergstrom AP, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013904), elevation 480 ft, 2.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin 6S, TX | 3 mi | Mar 10 | Nov 17 |
| Austin-camp Mabry, TX | 10 mi | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| Dripping Springs 6 E, TX | 16 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 28 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78744
When is the last frost in 78744?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78744 is March 12. For a more cautious planting date, use April 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78744?
The average first fall freeze is November 16. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 1.
What hardiness zone is 78744?
ZIP 78744 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 78744 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
78741 Austin 78747 Austin 78719 Austin 78745 Austin 78704 Austin 78702 Austin 78742 Austin 78748 Austin
Other ZIP codes in Travis County
78617 78641 78645 78652 78653 78660 78669 78701 78702 78703 78704 78705 78712 78719 78721 78722 78723 78724 78725 78726 78727 78728 78730 78731 All Travis County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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