Galveston, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Galveston is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. The last spring frost typically comes around January 25 and the first fall frost around January 1, giving about 348 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 10a
- Typical last frost
- January 25
- Typical first frost
- January 1
- Frost-free season
- 348 days
Frost dates in Galveston
Last spring frost
- December 23Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 25Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 21Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 9Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- January 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- February 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 348 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Galveston, 0.2 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 Galveston
January
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, 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, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
February
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
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: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: zinnias
September
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
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
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, 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, 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, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Galveston
All 3 of Galveston's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Galveston, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 10a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Galveston
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Sep 18 to 25 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 14 to 28 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 30 to Dec 14 | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Oct 2 to Nov 6 |
| Cilantro | Dec 14 to 28 | Jan 25 to Feb 1 | — |
| Basil | Jan 6 to 20 | Feb 24 to Mar 3 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 4 to 11 | Sep 11 to 18 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 14 to 28 | Jan 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Oct 5 to Nov 16 | Dec 28 to Jan 11 | — |
| Cucumbers | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Oct 2 to 16 |
| Pumpkins | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 9 to Jan 6 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Sep 11 to Oct 9 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 4 to 25 | Oct 9 to 30 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 19 to 26 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 20 to Feb 3 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Sep 25 to Oct 9 |
| Green Beans | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Oct 9 to 16 |
| Zucchini | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Oct 9 to 23 |
| Broccoli | Nov 9 to 30 | Dec 28 to Jan 11 | Oct 16 to Nov 13 |
| Peas | — | Dec 14 to 28 | Oct 9 to 23 |
| Spinach | Dec 14 to 21 | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Oct 23 to Nov 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 25 to Feb 15 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 23 to 30 | Apr 20 to May 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 20 to Jan 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 20 to Jan 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 14 to 28 | Nov 20 to Dec 4 |
Nearby cities
- Texas City, TX zone 10a
- League City, TX zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Pearland, TX zone 9b, last frost Jan 30
- Pasadena, TX zone 9b, last frost Jan 30
- Baytown, TX zone 9b, last frost Feb 20
- Missouri City, TX zone 9b, last frost Feb 2
Planting in TexasAbout zone 10aPrintable calendar for Galveston
Questions
When is the last frost in Galveston?
Around January 25 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Galveston. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 21.
What planting zone is Galveston in?
USDA hardiness zone 10a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Galveston?
Start seeds indoors December 30 to January 13 and set plants out February 24 to March 10.
When is the first frost in Galveston?
Around January 1 in a typical year, and before December 9 about 1 year in 10.