Longview, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Longview is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 16 and the first fall frost around November 14, giving about 244 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- March 16
- Typical first frost
- November 14
- Frost-free season
- 244 days
Frost dates in Longview
Last spring frost
- February 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 16Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 7Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 31Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 14Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 4Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 244 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 28 and returns around November 28.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Longview, 7.1 miles ESE 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 Longview
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, tomatoes
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, 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, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, 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, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, 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, daylilies, 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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Longview
Longview's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 3 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 7 in 75601 to March 16 in 75604. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Longview
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 1 to 8 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 2 to 16 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 19 to Feb 2 | Mar 9 to 23 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 |
| Cilantro | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 16 to 23 | — |
| Basil | Feb 7 to 21 | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 23 to Mar 2 | Jul 25 to Aug 1 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 2 to 16 | Nov 14 to 28 |
| Onions | Nov 24 to Jan 5 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 15 to 29 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 2 to 16 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 10 to Feb 7 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Jul 25 to Aug 22 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 23 to Mar 16 | Aug 22 to Sep 12 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 22 to 29 |
| Zucchini | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Broccoli | Dec 29 to Jan 19 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Aug 29 to Sep 26 |
| Peas | — | Feb 2 to 16 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Spinach | Feb 2 to 9 | Mar 9 to 23 | Sep 5 to Oct 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 16 to Apr 6 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 9 to 16 | May 7 to 21 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 3 to Nov 28 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 3 to Nov 14 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 2 to 16 | Oct 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- Tyler, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 7
- Shreveport, LA zone 8b, last frost Feb 28
- Bossier City, LA zone 8b, last frost Feb 28
- Rockwall, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Mesquite, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Rowlett, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 7
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Longview
Questions
When is the last frost in Longview?
Around March 16 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Longview. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 7.
What planting zone is Longview 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 Longview?
Start seeds indoors January 31 to February 14 and set plants out March 28 to April 11; the safest date to plant out is after April 7.
When is the first frost in Longview?
Around November 14 in a typical year, and before October 31 about 1 year in 10.