Abilene, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Abilene is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 20 and the first fall frost around November 10, giving about 236 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- March 20
- Typical first frost
- November 10
- Frost-free season
- 236 days
Frost dates in Abilene
Last spring frost
- March 1Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 20Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 28Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 10Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 28Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 236 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 6 and returns around November 23.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Abilene Rgnl Airport, 4 miles SE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Abilene
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, tomatoes
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Abilene
All 6 of Abilene's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Abilene Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79601 | 8a | Abilene Rgnl Airport, 4 mi SE | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| 79602 | 8a | Abilene Rgnl Airport, 4 mi SE | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| 79603 | 8a | Abilene Rgnl Airport, 4 mi SE | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| 79605 | 8a | Abilene Rgnl Airport, 4 mi SE | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| 79606 | 8a | Abilene Rgnl Airport, 4 mi SE | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| 79607 | 8a | Abilene Rgnl Airport, 4 mi SE | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Abilene
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Jul 28 to Aug 4 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 6 to 20 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 11 to Sep 15 |
| Cilantro | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 20 to 27 | — |
| Basil | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 27 to Mar 6 | Jul 21 to 28 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 6 to 20 | Nov 10 to 24 |
| Onions | Nov 28 to Jan 9 | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 11 to 25 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 9 to Feb 6 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Jul 21 to Aug 18 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 27 to Mar 20 | Aug 18 to Sep 8 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 18 to 25 |
| Zucchini | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Broccoli | Jan 2 to 23 | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Aug 25 to Sep 22 |
| Peas | — | Feb 6 to 20 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Spinach | Feb 6 to 13 | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 1 to Oct 6 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 20 to Apr 10 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 to 12 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 29 to Nov 24 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 29 to Nov 10 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 6 to 20 | Sep 29 to Oct 13 |
Nearby cities
- San Angelo, TX zone 8a, last frost Mar 20
- Wichita Falls, TX zone 8a, last frost Mar 26
- Burleson, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 11
- Fort Worth, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 11
- Midland, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 18
- Lubbock, TX zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Abilene
Questions
When is the last frost in Abilene?
Around March 20 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Abilene Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 10.
What planting zone is Abilene in?
USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Abilene?
Start seeds indoors January 25 to February 8 and set plants out March 22 to April 5; the safest date to plant out is after April 10.
When is the first frost in Abilene?
Around November 10 in a typical year, and before October 28 about 1 year in 10.