Port Arthur, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Port Arthur is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 14 and the first fall frost around December 7, giving about 301 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 14
- Typical first frost
- December 7
- Frost-free season
- 301 days
Frost dates in Port Arthur
Last spring frost
- January 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 14Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 13Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 7Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- New yearLate: in about 1 year in 10, the first frost waits until after December 31
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 301 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Port Arthur Se Tx Airport, 6.8 miles NW 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 Port Arthur
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, 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
February
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, 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
March
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, 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
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: zinnias
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
December
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
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Port Arthur
All 3 of Port Arthur's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Port Arthur Se Tx Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Port Arthur
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 2 to 16 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 24 to 31 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 3 to 17 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | Feb 7 to 21 | Sep 7 to Oct 12 |
| Cilantro | Jan 3 to 17 | Feb 14 to 21 | — |
| Basil | Jan 9 to 23 | Feb 27 to Mar 6 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 24 to 31 | Aug 17 to 24 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 3 to 17 | Dec 7 to 21 |
| Onions | Oct 25 to Dec 6 | Jan 17 to 31 | — |
| Cucumbers | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Sep 7 to 21 |
| Pumpkins | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 12 to Jan 9 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 17 to Sep 14 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | Sep 14 to Oct 5 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 25 to Apr 1 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 14 to 28 | Aug 31 to Sep 14 |
| Green Beans | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Sep 14 to 21 |
| Zucchini | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Sep 14 to 28 |
| Broccoli | Nov 29 to Dec 20 | Jan 17 to 31 | Sep 21 to Oct 19 |
| Peas | — | Jan 3 to 17 | Sep 14 to 28 |
| Spinach | Jan 3 to 10 | Feb 7 to 21 | Sep 28 to Nov 2 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 14 to Mar 7 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 23 to 30 | Apr 20 to May 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 26 to Dec 21 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 26 to Dec 7 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 3 to 17 | Oct 26 to Nov 9 |
Nearby cities
- Beaumont, TX zone 9b, last frost Feb 14
- Lake Charles, LA zone 9a, last frost Feb 14
- Baytown, TX zone 9b, last frost Feb 20
- Texas City, TX zone 10a
- Pasadena, TX zone 9b, last frost Jan 30
- League City, TX zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
Planting in TexasAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Port Arthur
Questions
When is the last frost in Port Arthur?
Around February 14 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Port Arthur Se Tx Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 13.
What planting zone is Port Arthur in?
USDA hardiness zone 9b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Port Arthur?
Start seeds indoors January 2 to 16 and set plants out February 27 to March 13; the safest date to plant out is after March 13.
When is the first frost in Port Arthur?
Around December 7 in a typical year, and before November 15 about 1 year in 10.