Frost dates for ZIP 78940 (Fayetteville, 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, La Grange, TX (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)267 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
75°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Wegenhoft (20 mi), Goetsch Ranch (35 mi), Bobadoo Ranch (36 mi).
4-inch depth
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 76°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Wegenhoft (20 mi), Goetsch Ranch (35 mi), Bobadoo Ranch (36 mi).
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 78940 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 76°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). 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 19 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 30–Oct 21
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 21
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 28
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 11
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 11
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 25: 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 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 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) | Nov 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 25 |
| 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 17 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 4 | Nov 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 15 | Dec 10 |
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 78940
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 4) and first fall frost (Nov 25). 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 7–21 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 7–21 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 7–21 | Feb 11–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 4–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 21 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 21–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 18–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 28–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 10–24 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 4–11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 4–11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 4–11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 10–24 | Mar 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (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 4 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: La Grange, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00414903), elevation 357 ft, 13.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, TX | 17 mi | Mar 9 | Nov 20 |
| Brenham, TX | 22 mi | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| Bellville 6NNE, TX | 27 mi | Feb 28 | Dec 2 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 12 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78940
When is the last frost in 78940?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78940 is March 4. For a more cautious planting date, use March 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78940?
The average first fall freeze is November 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 5.
What hardiness zone is 78940?
ZIP 78940 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 78940 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
78954 Round Top 78938 78950 New Ulm 78944 Industry 78945 La Grange 78931 78932 Carmine 78943 Glidden
Other ZIP codes in Fayette County
78938 78941 78945 78949 78954 78956 78963 All Fayette County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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