Austin, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Austin is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 20 and the first fall frost around December 3, giving about 291 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- February 20
- Typical first frost
- December 3
- Frost-free season
- 291 days
Frost dates in Austin
Last spring frost
- January 23Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 20Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 3Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- New yearLate: in about 1 year in 10, the first frost waits until after December 31
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 291 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 February 1 and returns around December 27.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 miles NNW of the city center and 183 feet higher. 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 Austin
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
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
February
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
March
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
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Austin
All 12 of Austin's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Austin-Camp Mabry, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78617 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78724 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78730 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78735 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78744 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78745 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78746 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78748 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78749 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78750 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78753 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| 78759 | 9a | Austin-Camp Mabry, 3.9 mi NNW | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
Austin-Camp Mabry also supplies the frost dates for Round Rock, Leander, Cedar Park and Pflugerville, so their planting calendars match Austin's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Austin
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 8 to 22 | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 20 to 27 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 9 to 23 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 26 to Jan 9 | Feb 13 to 27 | Sep 3 to Oct 8 |
| Cilantro | Jan 9 to 23 | Feb 20 to 27 | — |
| Basil | Jan 15 to 29 | Mar 5 to 12 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 30 to Feb 6 | Aug 13 to 20 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 9 to 23 | Dec 3 to 17 |
| Onions | Oct 31 to Dec 12 | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 5 to 19 | Sep 3 to 17 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 6 to 20 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 18 to Jan 15 | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 30 to Feb 20 | Sep 10 to Oct 1 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 26 to Apr 2 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Sep 10 to 17 |
| Zucchini | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 5 to 19 | Sep 10 to 24 |
| Broccoli | Dec 5 to 26 | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | Sep 17 to Oct 15 |
| Peas | — | Jan 9 to 23 | Sep 10 to 24 |
| Spinach | Jan 9 to 16 | Feb 13 to 27 | Sep 24 to Oct 29 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 20 to Mar 13 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 21 to 28 | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 22 to Dec 17 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 22 to Dec 3 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 9 to 23 | Oct 22 to Nov 5 |
Nearby cities
- Pflugerville, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Cedar Park, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Round Rock, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Leander, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Kyle, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 28
- Georgetown, TX zone 9a, last frost Mar 6
Planting in TexasAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Austin
Questions
When is the last frost in Austin?
Around February 20 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Austin-Camp Mabry. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 14.
What planting zone is Austin in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Austin?
Start seeds indoors January 8 to 22 and set plants out March 5 to 19; the safest date to plant out is after March 14.
When is the first frost in Austin?
Around December 3 in a typical year, and before November 15 about 1 year in 10.