Frost dates for ZIP 78873 (Leakey, 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, Prade Rch, TX (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)212 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
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station HEBFF Camps, 4 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 79°, Fri 73°.
4-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 71°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station HEBFF Camps, 4 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 79°, Fri 75°.
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 78873 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 70°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 May 21 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 2: 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) | Mar 11 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 5 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 25 |
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) | Oct 20 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 2 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 18 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 15 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 5 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 17 | Nov 12 |
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 78873
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 5) and first fall frost (Nov 2). 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 | Feb 8–22 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 8–22 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 8–22 | Mar 15–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 8–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–28 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 8–22 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 8–22 | Mar 8–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 11–25 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 8–22 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 1–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 11–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 11–25 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 26–May 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 8–15 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 8–15 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 8–15 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 8–15 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 8–15 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 11–25 | Apr 12–19 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (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 April 5 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Prade Rch, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00417232), elevation 2,052 ft, 8.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Wood, TX | 20 mi | Mar 12 | Nov 14 |
| Hunt 10 W, TX | 22 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| Medina 1NE, TX | 29 mi | Mar 16 | Nov 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 24 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78873
When is the last frost in 78873?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78873 is April 5. For a more cautious planting date, use April 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78873?
The average first fall freeze is November 2. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 20.
What hardiness zone is 78873?
ZIP 78873 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 78873 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
78885 78879 78833 Camp Wood 78828 Barksdale 78884 Utopia 78024 78838 78058
Other ZIP codes in Real County
78828 78833 78879 All Real County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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