DeSoto, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
DeSoto is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 6 and the first fall frost around November 25, giving about 265 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- March 6
- Typical first frost
- November 25
- Frost-free season
- 265 days
Frost dates in DeSoto
Last spring frost
- February 15Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 6Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 26Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 6Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 25Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 14Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 265 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 22 and returns around December 9.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dallas Redbird Airport, 5.6 miles N 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 DeSoto
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
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: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, 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, 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: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, 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: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, roses, saffron, 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, 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, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in DeSoto
DeSoto's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 2 in 75232 to March 6 in 75115. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
Planting dates for popular crops in DeSoto
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 12 to 19 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 9 to 23 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 26 to Sep 30 |
| Cilantro | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | Mar 6 to 13 | — |
| Basil | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Mar 21 to 28 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 13 to 20 | Aug 5 to 12 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | Nov 25 to Dec 9 |
| Onions | Nov 14 to Dec 26 | Feb 6 to 20 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 26 to Sep 9 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 3 to 31 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 5 to Sep 2 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 13 to Mar 6 | Sep 2 to 23 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 13 to 20 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 14 to 28 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 19 to Sep 2 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Sep 2 to 9 |
| Zucchini | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Sep 2 to 16 |
| Broccoli | Dec 19 to Jan 9 | Feb 6 to 20 | Sep 9 to Oct 7 |
| Peas | — | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | Sep 2 to 16 |
| Spinach | Jan 23 to 30 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Sep 16 to Oct 21 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 6 to 27 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 6 to 13 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 14 to Dec 9 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 14 to Nov 25 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | Oct 14 to 28 |
Nearby cities
- Grand Prairie, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Waxahachie, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 16
- Dallas, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Mansfield, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 9
- Arlington, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 9
- Irving, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for DeSoto
Questions
When is the last frost in DeSoto?
Around March 6 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Dallas Redbird Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 26.
What planting zone is DeSoto in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in DeSoto?
Start seeds indoors January 24 to February 7 and set plants out March 21 to April 4; the safest date to plant out is after March 26.
When is the first frost in DeSoto?
Around November 25 in a typical year, and before November 6 about 1 year in 10.