Mansfield, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Mansfield is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 9 and the first fall frost around November 21, giving about 256 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- March 9
- Typical first frost
- November 21
- Frost-free season
- 256 days
Frost dates in Mansfield
Last spring frost
- February 18Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 9Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 28Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 21Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 7Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 256 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 25 and returns around December 4.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Arlington Muni Airport, 5 miles S of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Mansfield shares this station with Arlington, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Mansfield
January
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: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, 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: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, 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, 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, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
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, beets, broccoli, 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, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Planting dates for popular crops in Mansfield
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 8 to 15 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 12 to 26 | Mar 2 to 16 | Aug 22 to Sep 26 |
| Cilantro | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 9 to 16 | — |
| Basil | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 20 to 27 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 16 to 23 | Aug 1 to 8 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Nov 21 to Dec 5 |
| Onions | Nov 17 to Dec 29 | Feb 9 to 23 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 2 to 30 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 1 to 29 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 16 to Mar 9 | Aug 29 to Sep 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 13 to 27 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 9 to 23 | Aug 15 to 29 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 29 to Sep 5 |
| Zucchini | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 29 to Sep 12 |
| Broccoli | Dec 22 to Jan 12 | Feb 9 to 23 | Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Peas | — | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Aug 29 to Sep 12 |
| Spinach | Jan 26 to Feb 2 | Mar 2 to 16 | Sep 12 to Oct 17 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 9 to 30 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 6 to 13 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 10 to Dec 5 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 10 to Nov 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Oct 10 to 24 |
Nearby cities
- Arlington, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 9
- Grand Prairie, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Burleson, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 11
- DeSoto, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 6
- Euless, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 11
- Waxahachie, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 16
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Mansfield
Questions
When is the last frost in Mansfield?
Around March 9 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Arlington Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 28.
What planting zone is Mansfield 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 Mansfield?
Start seeds indoors January 23 to February 6 and set plants out March 20 to April 3; the safest date to plant out is after March 28.
When is the first frost in Mansfield?
Around November 21 in a typical year, and before November 3 about 1 year in 10.