New Braunfels, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
New Braunfels is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 1 and the first fall frost around November 26, giving about 273 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- March 1
- Typical first frost
- November 26
- Frost-free season
- 273 days
Frost dates in New Braunfels
Last spring frost
- February 3Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 20Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 8Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 26Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 20Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 273 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 13 and returns around December 11.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Austin San Antonio, 5.8 miles E 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 New Braunfels
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, 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, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, 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, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in New Braunfels
All 2 of New Braunfels's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Austin San Antonio, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
Planting dates for popular crops in New Braunfels
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 9 to 23 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 13 to 20 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 4 to 18 | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Aug 27 to Oct 1 |
| Cilantro | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Mar 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Mar 8 to 15 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 8 to 15 | Aug 6 to 13 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Nov 26 to Dec 10 |
| Onions | Nov 9 to Dec 21 | Feb 1 to 15 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 8 to 22 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Mar 15 to 29 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 21 to Jan 18 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 8 to Mar 1 | Sep 3 to 24 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 25 to Apr 1 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 1 to 15 | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 1 to 15 | Aug 20 to Sep 3 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Sep 3 to 10 |
| Zucchini | Feb 8 to 22 | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 3 to 17 |
| Broccoli | Dec 14 to Jan 4 | Feb 1 to 15 | Sep 10 to Oct 8 |
| Peas | — | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Sep 3 to 17 |
| Spinach | Jan 18 to 25 | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Sep 17 to Oct 22 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 20 to 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 15 to Dec 10 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 15 to Nov 26 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Oct 15 to 29 |
Nearby cities
- San Marcos, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 28
- Kyle, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 28
- San Antonio, TX zone 8b, last frost Feb 26
- Austin, 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 9aPrintable calendar for New Braunfels
Questions
When is the last frost in New Braunfels?
Around March 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Austin San Antonio. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 20.
What planting zone is New Braunfels in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in New Braunfels?
Start seeds indoors January 9 to 23 and set plants out March 6 to 20; the safest date to plant out is after March 20.
When is the first frost in New Braunfels?
Around November 26 in a typical year, and before November 8 about 1 year in 10.