Midland, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Midland is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 18 and the first fall frost around November 14, giving about 239 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 18
- Typical first frost
- November 14
- Frost-free season
- 239 days
Frost dates in Midland
Last spring frost
- February 28Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 18Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 8Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 14Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 30Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 239 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 4 and returns around November 24.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Midland Odessa, 7.5 miles WSW 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 Midland
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, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, 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, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, 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 Midland
All 5 of Midland's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Midland Odessa, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8a in 79703, 79706, 79707, and 8b in 79701, 79705.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79701 | 8b | Midland Odessa, 7.5 mi WSW | Mar 18 | Nov 14 |
| 79703 | 8a | Midland Odessa, 7.5 mi WSW | Mar 18 | Nov 14 |
| 79705 | 8b | Midland Odessa, 7.5 mi WSW | Mar 18 | Nov 14 |
| 79706 | 8a | Midland Odessa, 7.5 mi WSW | Mar 18 | Nov 14 |
| 79707 | 8a | Midland Odessa, 7.5 mi WSW | Mar 18 | Nov 14 |
Midland Odessa also supplies the frost dates for Odessa, so their planting calendars match Midland's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Midland
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 1 to 8 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 |
| Cilantro | Feb 4 to 18 | Mar 18 to 25 | — |
| Basil | Feb 4 to 18 | Mar 25 to Apr 1 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 25 to Mar 4 | Jul 25 to Aug 1 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 4 to 18 | Nov 14 to 28 |
| Onions | Nov 26 to Jan 7 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 15 to 29 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 1 to 15 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 7 to Feb 4 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Jul 25 to Aug 22 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 25 to Mar 18 | Aug 22 to Sep 12 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 22 to 29 |
| Zucchini | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Broccoli | Dec 31 to Jan 21 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Aug 29 to Sep 26 |
| Peas | — | Feb 4 to 18 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Spinach | Feb 4 to 11 | Mar 11 to 25 | Sep 5 to Oct 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 18 to Apr 8 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 2 to 9 | Apr 30 to May 14 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 3 to Nov 28 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 3 to Nov 14 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 4 to 18 | Oct 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- Odessa, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 18
- San Angelo, TX zone 8a, last frost Mar 20
- Lubbock, TX zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
- Abilene, TX zone 8a, last frost Mar 20
- Amarillo, TX zone 7a, last frost Apr 13
- Wichita Falls, TX zone 8a, last frost Mar 26
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Midland
Questions
When is the last frost in Midland?
Around March 18 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Midland Odessa. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 8.
What planting zone is Midland in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Midland?
Start seeds indoors January 26 to February 9 and set plants out March 23 to April 6; the safest date to plant out is after April 8.
When is the first frost in Midland?
Around November 14 in a typical year, and before November 1 about 1 year in 10.