Denton, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Denton is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 13 and the first fall frost around November 20, giving about 251 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 13
- Typical first frost
- November 20
- Frost-free season
- 251 days
Frost dates in Denton
Last spring frost
- February 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 13Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 31Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 20Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 8Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 251 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 1 and returns around December 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Denton 2 Se, 1.9 miles ESE 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 Denton
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, 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, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
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
October
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
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Denton
All 10 of Denton's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Denton 2 Se, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8a in 76201, 76207, 76259, 76266, and 8b in 76205, 76208, 76209, 76210, 76226, 76227.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76201 | 8a | Denton 2 Se, 1.9 mi ESE | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| 76205 | 8b | Denton 2 Se, 1.9 mi ESE | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| 76207 | 8a | Denton 2 Se, 1.9 mi ESE | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| 76208 | 8b | Denton 2 Se, 1.9 mi ESE | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| 76209 | 8b | Denton 2 Se, 1.9 mi ESE | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| 76210 | 8b | Denton 2 Se, 1.9 mi ESE | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| 76226 | 8b | Denton 2 Se, 1.9 mi ESE | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| 76227 | 8b | Denton 2 Se, 1.9 mi ESE | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| 76259 | 8a | Denton 2 Se, 1.9 mi ESE | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| 76266 | 8a | Denton 2 Se, 1.9 mi ESE | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Denton
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 1 to 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 7 to 14 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 16 to 30 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Cilantro | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 13 to 20 | — |
| Basil | Feb 8 to 22 | Mar 29 to Apr 5 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 23 to Mar 2 | Jul 31 to Aug 7 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Nov 20 to Dec 4 |
| Onions | Nov 21 to Jan 2 | Feb 13 to 27 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 1 to 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 21 to Sep 4 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 1 to 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 11 to Feb 8 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 20 to Mar 13 | Aug 28 to Sep 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 14 to 28 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 28 to Sep 4 |
| Zucchini | Mar 1 to 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Broccoli | Dec 26 to Jan 16 | Feb 13 to 27 | Sep 4 to Oct 2 |
| Peas | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Spinach | Jan 30 to Feb 6 | Mar 6 to 20 | Sep 11 to Oct 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 13 to Apr 3 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 10 to 17 | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 9 to Dec 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 9 to Nov 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Oct 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Flower Mound, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
- Little Elm, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 18
- Lewisville, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Frisco, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 18
- Grapevine, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
- Carrollton, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Denton
Questions
When is the last frost in Denton?
Around March 13 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Denton 2 Se. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 31.
What planting zone is Denton in?
USDA hardiness zone 8a (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 Denton?
Start seeds indoors February 1 to 15 and set plants out March 29 to April 12; the safest date to plant out is after March 31.
When is the first frost in Denton?
Around November 20 in a typical year, and before November 3 about 1 year in 10.