College Station, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
College Station is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 27 and the first fall frost around November 30, giving about 278 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- February 27
- Typical first frost
- November 30
- Frost-free season
- 278 days
Frost dates in College Station
Last spring frost
- January 31Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 27Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 18Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 10Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 30Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 26Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 278 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 7 and returns around December 18.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for College Stn, 3.2 miles SW 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 College Station
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, 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, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, 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: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
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, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, 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, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in College Station
All 2 of College Station's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from College Stn, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77840 | 9a | College Stn, 3.2 mi SW | Feb 27 | Nov 30 |
| 77845 | 9a | College Stn, 3.2 mi SW | Feb 27 | Nov 30 |
College Stn also supplies the frost dates for Bryan, so their planting calendars match College Station's.
Planting dates for popular crops in College Station
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 11 to 25 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 17 to 24 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 16 to 30 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 2 to 16 | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Aug 31 to Oct 5 |
| Cilantro | Jan 16 to 30 | Feb 27 to Mar 6 | — |
| Basil | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Mar 8 to 15 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 6 to 13 | Aug 10 to 17 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 16 to 30 | Nov 30 to Dec 14 |
| Onions | Nov 7 to Dec 19 | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 8 to 22 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 31 to Sep 14 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 13 to 27 | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 21 to Jan 18 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 10 to Sep 7 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 6 to 27 | Sep 7 to 28 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 29 to Apr 5 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 1 to 15 | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 24 to Sep 7 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 7 to 14 |
| Zucchini | Feb 8 to 22 | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 7 to 21 |
| Broccoli | Dec 12 to Jan 2 | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Sep 14 to Oct 12 |
| Peas | — | Jan 16 to 30 | Sep 7 to 21 |
| Spinach | Jan 16 to 23 | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Sep 21 to Oct 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 27 to Mar 20 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 26 to Apr 2 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 19 to Dec 14 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 19 to Nov 30 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 16 to 30 | Oct 19 to Nov 2 |
Nearby cities
- Bryan, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 27
- Conroe, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 24
- Fulshear, TX zone 9a, last frost Jan 30
- Temple, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 14
- Houston, TX zone 9b, last frost Jan 30
- Pflugerville, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
Planting in TexasAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for College Station
Questions
When is the last frost in College Station?
Around February 27 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for College Stn. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 18.
What planting zone is College Station in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in College Station?
Start seeds indoors January 11 to 25 and set plants out March 8 to 22; the safest date to plant out is after March 18.
When is the first frost in College Station?
Around November 30 in a typical year, and before November 10 about 1 year in 10.