Killeen, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Killeen is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 14 and the first fall frost around November 17, giving about 247 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- March 14
- Typical first frost
- November 17
- Frost-free season
- 247 days
Frost dates in Killeen
Last spring frost
- February 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 14Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 4Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 17Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 6Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 247 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 2 and returns around November 30.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Killeen, 4.1 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 Killeen
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, tomatoes
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, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, 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: 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, perennial ryegrass, 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, 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, centipedegrass, okra, 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, 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
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 Killeen
All 4 of Killeen's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Killeen, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Killeen
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 4 to 11 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 17 to 31 | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 18 to Sep 22 |
| Cilantro | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 21 | — |
| Basil | Feb 1 to 15 | Mar 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 21 to 28 | Jul 28 to Aug 4 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Nov 17 to Dec 1 |
| Onions | Nov 22 to Jan 3 | Feb 14 to 28 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 4 to Feb 1 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Jul 28 to Aug 25 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 21 to Mar 14 | Aug 25 to Sep 15 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Aug 11 to 25 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 25 to Sep 1 |
| Zucchini | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Broccoli | Dec 27 to Jan 17 | Feb 14 to 28 | Sep 1 to 29 |
| Peas | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Spinach | Jan 31 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 8 to Oct 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 14 to Apr 4 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 8 to 15 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 6 to Dec 1 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 6 to Nov 17 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Oct 6 to 20 |
Nearby cities
- Temple, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 14
- Georgetown, TX zone 9a, last frost Mar 6
- Leander, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Round Rock, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Cedar Park, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Pflugerville, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Killeen
Questions
When is the last frost in Killeen?
Around March 14 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Killeen. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 4.
What planting zone is Killeen 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 Killeen?
Start seeds indoors January 25 to February 8 and set plants out March 22 to April 5; the safest date to plant out is after April 4.
When is the first frost in Killeen?
Around November 17 in a typical year, and before November 1 about 1 year in 10.