Frost dates for ZIP 79843 (Marfa, 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, Presidio, TX (21 miles away).
Use with caution
The nearest station is far away or at a very different elevation, so local dates may differ a lot.
- Average last spring frostFeb 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)275 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°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
61°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 64°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of CHAA Ranch (5 mi), Alamito Ranch (27 mi), C.E. Miller (50 mi).
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of CHAA Ranch (5 mi), Alamito Ranch (27 mi), C.E. Miller (50 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 79843 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°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 Apr 10 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 Oct 1–22
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 1–22
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 1–29
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 26: 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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 23 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 13 |
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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 9 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 7 | Nov 16 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 23 | Nov 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 3 | Dec 5 |
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 79843
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 23) and first fall frost (Nov 26). 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 29–Jan 12 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 15–29 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 15–29 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 2–23 (transplant) Jan 26–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–22 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 12–Feb 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Jan 26–Feb 23 (transplant) Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 15–29 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 15–29 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 15–29 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 1–15 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 26–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 19–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 26–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 29–Jan 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 1–15 | Jan 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 12–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 1–15 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 12–26 (transplant) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Aug 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 16–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 26–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 26–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 26–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 26–Feb 2 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 26–Feb 2 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 1–15 | Mar 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 12–26 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 15–29 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (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 23 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Presidio, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00417262), elevation 2,610 ft, 20.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candelaria, TX | 25 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 15 |
| Marfa 3W, TX | 37 mi | Apr 14 | Oct 27 |
| Big Bend Rch Sp, TX | 40 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 53 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 79843
When is the last frost in 79843?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 79843 is February 23. For a more cautious planting date, use March 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 79843?
The average first fall freeze is November 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 9.
What hardiness zone is 79843?
ZIP 79843 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 79843 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
79845 Presidio 79846 Redford 79830 Alpine 79854 Valentine 79832 Alpine 79852 Terlingua 79734 Fort Davis 79855 Van Horn
Other ZIP codes in Presidio County
79845 79846 All Presidio County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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