Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 79068 (Panhandle, 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, Panhandle, TX (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)196 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
54°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Bushland #1 (38 mi).
4-inch depth
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Bushland #1 (38 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 79068 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 58°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 31 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
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 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) | Mar 31 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 29 |
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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 9 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 26 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 15 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 3 | Nov 6 |
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 79068
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Oct 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 | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 25–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 4–18 | Apr 1–22 (transplant) Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 11–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 18–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 18–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 18–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 18–25 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 18–25 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Apr 22–29 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 4–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (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 15 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Panhandle, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00416785), elevation 3,463 ft, 3.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo, TX | 16 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 27 |
| Amarillo 7ENE, TX | 16 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 29 |
| Borger, TX | 24 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 3 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 79068
When is the last frost in 79068?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 79068 is April 15. For a more cautious planting date, use April 29, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 79068?
The average first fall freeze is October 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 15.
What hardiness zone is 79068?
ZIP 79068 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 79068 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
79108 Amarillo 79111 Amarillo 79097 White Deer 79039 Groom 79036 Fritch 79107 Amarillo 79104 Amarillo 79103 Amarillo
Other ZIP codes in Carson County
79036 79039 79097 All Carson County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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