Frost dates for ZIP 79705 (Midland, 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, Midland 4 ENE, TX (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)226 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
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 63°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Monahans 6 ENE (55 mi).
4-inch depth
66°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Monahans 6 ENE (55 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 79705 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 66°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: 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 11 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 9: 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 4 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 15 |
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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 7 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 26 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 10 | Nov 18 |
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 79705
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 26) and first fall frost (Nov 9). 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 29–Feb 12 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 15–29 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 15–29 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 5–26 (transplant) Feb 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 26 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 15–29 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 12–26 | Mar 12–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 26–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 1–15 | Apr 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 12–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (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 26 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Midland 4 ENE, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00415891), elevation 2,776 ft, 6.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland Odessa, TX | 13 mi | Mar 18 | Nov 14 |
| Odessa Schlemeyer Fld, TX | 23 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 11 |
| Odessa, TX | 23 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 16 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 79705
When is the last frost in 79705?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 79705 is March 26. For a more cautious planting date, use April 15, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 79705?
The average first fall freeze is November 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 25.
What hardiness zone is 79705?
ZIP 79705 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 79705 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
79701 Midland 79707 Midland 79703 Midland 79782 Stanton 79783 79749 79758 Gardendale 79706
Other ZIP codes in Martin County
79713 79749 79782 79783 All Martin County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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