Frost dates for ZIP 78839 (Crystal City, 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, Crystal City, TX (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)307 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
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 Crystal City Weather Station, 8 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 90°, Fri 83°.
4-inch depth
78°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 79°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Crystal City Weather Station, 8 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 89°, Fri 84°.
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 78839 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 78°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 Mar 28 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 Oct 1–29
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 15–Nov 5
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 5
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 1–29
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 26
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 26
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 10: 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) | Jan 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 10 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 9 |
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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 10 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 9 (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 28 | Nov 28 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 10 | Dec 10 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 20 | Dec 26 |
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 78839
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 10) and first fall frost (Dec 10). 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 16–30 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 2–16 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 10 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 2–16 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 10 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 16–30 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 16–30 | Jan 20–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 13–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–Nov 5 (transplant) Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 30–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 16–30 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 16–30 | Jan 13–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 2–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 2–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 2–16 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 18–Dec 2 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 16–30 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 13–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Jan 27–Feb 17 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 20–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 6–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 13–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 20–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 16–Jan 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 18–Dec 2 | Dec 30–Jan 13 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 30–Jan 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 18–Dec 2 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 29–Nov 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 30–Jan 13 (transplant) | Oct 29–Nov 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 13–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 13–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 13–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 13–20 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 13–20 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 18–Dec 2 | Feb 17–24 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 2–16 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 20–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (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 February 10 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Crystal City, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00412160), elevation 580 ft, 6.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrizo Springs 3S, TX | 18 mi | Mar 5 | Nov 22 |
| Dilley, TX | 34 mi | Feb 16 | Dec 6 |
| Cotulla La Salle Co AP, TX | 36 mi | Feb 11 | Dec 3 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 26 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78839
When is the last frost in 78839?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78839 is February 10. For a more cautious planting date, use March 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78839?
The average first fall freeze is December 10. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 19.
What hardiness zone is 78839?
ZIP 78839 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 78839 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
78834 Carrizo Springs 78829 Batesville 78872 La Pryor 78827 Asherton 78830 Big Wells 78836 Catarina 78802 78017 Dilley
Other ZIP codes in Zavala County
78829 78872 All Zavala County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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