Harlingen, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Harlingen is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. The last spring frost typically comes around January 8 and the first fall frost around December 29, giving about 357 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 10a
- Typical last frost
- January 8
- Typical first frost
- December 29
- Frost-free season
- 357 days
Frost dates in Harlingen
Last spring frost
- December 12Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 8Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 29Typical: 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 357 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Harlingen Rio Grande Airport, 2 miles SSE 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 Harlingen
January
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, garden mums, green onions, okra, peanuts, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, winter squash, zoysiagrass
March
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
October
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
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
November
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: asparagus, black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kentucky bluegrass, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet peas, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
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: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, 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, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, peppers, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Harlingen
Harlingen's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 3 different NOAA stations. Every one of them is in zone 10a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Harlingen
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Nov 13 to 27 | Jan 8 to 22 | Sep 15 to 22 |
| Strawberries | — | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 13 to 27 | Jan 1 to 15 | Sep 29 to Nov 3 |
| Cilantro | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | Jan 8 to 15 | — |
| Basil | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | Jan 15 to 22 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 18 to 25 | Sep 8 to 15 |
| Garlic | — | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | Dec 29 to Jan 12 |
| Onions | Sep 18 to Oct 30 | Dec 11 to 25 | — |
| Cucumbers | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | Jan 15 to 29 | Sep 29 to Oct 13 |
| Pumpkins | Dec 25 to Jan 8 | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | — |
| Peppers | Oct 30 to Nov 27 | Jan 15 to 29 | Sep 8 to Oct 6 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 18 to Jan 8 | Oct 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Feb 15 to 22 | — |
| Watermelons | Dec 11 to 25 | Jan 15 to 29 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 8 to 22 | Sep 22 to Oct 6 |
| Green Beans | — | Jan 8 to 22 | Oct 6 to 13 |
| Zucchini | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | Jan 15 to 29 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Broccoli | Oct 23 to Nov 13 | Dec 11 to 25 | Oct 13 to Nov 10 |
| Peas | — | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Nov 27 to Dec 4 | Jan 1 to 15 | Oct 20 to Nov 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 8 to 29 | — |
| Zinnias | Feb 16 to 23 | Mar 16 to 30 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 17 to Jan 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 17 to Dec 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | Nov 17 to Dec 1 |
Nearby cities
- Brownsville, TX zone 10a
- Edinburg, TX zone 10a
- Pharr, TX zone 10a
- McAllen, TX zone 10a
- Mission, TX zone 10a
- Corpus Christi, TX zone 10a, last frost Jan 28
Planting in TexasAbout zone 10aPrintable calendar for Harlingen
Questions
When is the last frost in Harlingen?
Around January 8 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Harlingen Rio Grande Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 17.
What planting zone is Harlingen 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 Harlingen?
Start seeds indoors November 13 to 27 and set plants out January 8 to 22; the safest date to plant out is after February 17.
When is the first frost in Harlingen?
Around December 29 in a typical year, and before December 2 about 1 year in 10.