Rowlett, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Rowlett is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 7 and the first fall frost around November 21, giving about 259 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- March 7
- Typical first frost
- November 21
- Frost-free season
- 259 days
Frost dates in Rowlett
Last spring frost
- February 18Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 7Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 29Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 21Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 9Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 259 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 24 and returns around December 4.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Richardson, 3 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. Rowlett shares this station with Plano, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Rowlett
January
Start indoors: 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, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, 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: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, 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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Rowlett
Rowlett's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 2 in 75088 to March 7 in 75089. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75088 | 8b | Dallas Love Fld, 5.5 mi NNW | Mar 2 | Nov 29 |
| 75089 | 8b | Richardson, 3 mi WSW | Mar 7 | Nov 21 |
Richardson also supplies the frost dates for Plano, Garland, Richardson and Allen, so their planting calendars match Rowlett's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Rowlett
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 8 to 15 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 10 to 24 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 22 to Sep 26 |
| Cilantro | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to 14 | — |
| Basil | Feb 1 to 15 | Mar 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 17 to 24 | Aug 1 to 8 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Nov 21 to Dec 5 |
| Onions | Nov 15 to Dec 27 | Feb 7 to 21 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 4 to Feb 1 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 1 to 29 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 14 to Mar 7 | Aug 29 to Sep 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 15 to 29 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 29 to Sep 5 |
| Zucchini | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 29 to Sep 12 |
| Broccoli | Dec 20 to Jan 10 | Feb 7 to 21 | Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Peas | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Aug 29 to Sep 12 |
| Spinach | Jan 24 to 31 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Sep 12 to Oct 17 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 7 to 28 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 9 to 16 | May 7 to 21 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 10 to Dec 5 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 10 to Nov 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Oct 10 to 24 |
Nearby cities
- Garland, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 7
- Rockwall, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Wylie, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Richardson, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 7
- Mesquite, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Plano, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 7
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Rowlett
Questions
When is the last frost in Rowlett?
Around March 7 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Richardson. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 29.
What planting zone is Rowlett 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 Rowlett?
Start seeds indoors January 25 to February 8 and set plants out March 22 to April 5; the safest date to plant out is after March 29.
When is the first frost in Rowlett?
Around November 21 in a typical year, and before November 2 about 1 year in 10.