Corpus Christi, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Corpus Christi is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. The last spring frost typically comes around January 28 and the first fall frost around December 21, giving about 331 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- January 28
- Typical first frost
- December 21
- Frost-free season
- 331 days
Frost dates in Corpus Christi
Last spring frost
- December 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 28Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 28Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 25Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 21Typical: 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 331 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 January 8 and returns around December 30.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Corpus Christi, 7.1 miles W 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 Corpus Christi
January
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
March
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
December
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cantaloupes, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
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, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Corpus Christi
All 12 of Corpus Christi's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Corpus Christi, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 10a in 78373, 78405, 78411, 78412, 78413, 78414, 78417, 78418, and 9b in 78406, 78409, 78410, 78415.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78373 | 10a | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78405 | 10a | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78406 | 9b | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78409 | 9b | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78410 | 9b | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78411 | 10a | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78412 | 10a | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78413 | 10a | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78414 | 10a | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78415 | 9b | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78417 | 10a | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
| 78418 | 10a | Corpus Christi, 7.1 mi W | Jan 28 | Dec 21 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Corpus Christi
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 10 to 24 | Feb 4 to 18 | Sep 7 to 14 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 17 to 31 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 3 to 17 | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Sep 21 to Oct 26 |
| Cilantro | Dec 17 to 31 | Jan 28 to Feb 4 | — |
| Basil | Dec 17 to 31 | Feb 4 to 11 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 7 to 14 | Aug 31 to Sep 7 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 17 to 31 | Dec 21 to Jan 4 |
| Onions | Oct 8 to Nov 19 | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | — |
| Cucumbers | Jan 7 to 21 | Feb 4 to 18 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Pumpkins | Jan 14 to 28 | Feb 11 to 25 | — |
| Peppers | Nov 19 to Dec 17 | Feb 4 to 18 | Aug 31 to Sep 28 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 7 to 28 | Sep 28 to Oct 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 4 to 11 | — |
| Watermelons | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | Feb 4 to 18 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Sep 14 to 28 |
| Green Beans | — | Feb 4 to 18 | Sep 28 to Oct 5 |
| Zucchini | Jan 7 to 21 | Feb 4 to 18 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
| Broccoli | Nov 12 to Dec 3 | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | Oct 5 to Nov 2 |
| Peas | — | Dec 17 to 31 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
| Spinach | Dec 17 to 24 | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Oct 12 to Nov 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 1 to 8 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 9 to Jan 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 9 to Dec 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 17 to 31 | Nov 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Victoria, TX zone 9b, last frost Feb 18
- Harlingen, TX zone 10a, last frost Jan 8
- Edinburg, TX zone 10a
- Brownsville, TX zone 10a
- McAllen, TX zone 10a
- Pharr, TX zone 10a
Planting in TexasAbout zone 10aPrintable calendar for Corpus Christi
Questions
When is the last frost in Corpus Christi?
Around January 28 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Corpus Christi. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 28.
What planting zone is Corpus Christi in?
USDA hardiness zone 10a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 9b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Corpus Christi?
Start seeds indoors December 10 to 24 and set plants out February 4 to 18; the safest date to plant out is after February 28.
When is the first frost in Corpus Christi?
Around December 21 in a typical year, and before November 25 about 1 year in 10.