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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

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. July

    Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. November

    Start indoors: onions

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  11. 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.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
765418bKilleen, 4.1 mi SSEMar 14Nov 17
765428bKilleen, 4.1 mi SSEMar 14Nov 17
765438bKilleen, 4.1 mi SSEMar 14Nov 17
765498bKilleen, 4.1 mi SSEMar 14Nov 17

Planting dates for popular crops in Killeen

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 4 to 11
Strawberries—Jan 31 to Feb 14—
LettuceJan 17 to 31Mar 7 to 21Aug 18 to Sep 22
CilantroJan 31 to Feb 14Mar 14 to 21—
BasilFeb 1 to 15Mar 22 to 29—
Potatoes—Feb 21 to 28Jul 28 to Aug 4
Garlic—Jan 31 to Feb 14Nov 17 to Dec 1
OnionsNov 22 to Jan 3Feb 14 to 28—
CucumbersFeb 22 to Mar 8Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 18 to Sep 1
PumpkinsFeb 28 to Mar 14Mar 28 to Apr 11—
PeppersJan 4 to Feb 1Mar 22 to Apr 5Jul 28 to Aug 25
Carrots—Feb 21 to Mar 14Aug 25 to Sep 15
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 15 to 22—
WatermelonsFeb 15 to Mar 1Mar 22 to Apr 5—
Sweet Corn—Mar 14 to 28Aug 11 to 25
Green Beans—Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 25 to Sep 1
ZucchiniFeb 22 to Mar 8Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 25 to Sep 8
BroccoliDec 27 to Jan 17Feb 14 to 28Sep 1 to 29
Peas—Jan 31 to Feb 14Aug 25 to Sep 8
SpinachJan 31 to Feb 7Mar 7 to 21Sep 8 to Oct 13
Sunflowers—Mar 14 to Apr 4—
ZinniasApr 8 to 15May 6 to 20—
Tulips——Oct 6 to Dec 1
Daffodils——Oct 6 to Nov 17
Grass Seed—Jan 31 to Feb 14Oct 6 to 20

Nearby cities

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.