San Antonio, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
San Antonio is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 26 and the first fall frost around November 28, giving about 277 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- February 26
- Typical first frost
- November 28
- Frost-free season
- 277 days
Frost dates in San Antonio
Last spring frost
- January 29Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 26Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 7Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 28Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 22Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 277 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 9 and returns around December 13.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for San Antonio International Airport, 8.3 miles N of the city center and 140 feet higher. 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 San Antonio
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cantaloupes, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
March
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, 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, 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 San Antonio
All 6 of San Antonio's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from San Antonio International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8b in 78023, and 9a in 78221, 78223, 78251, 78258, 78264.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78023 | 8b | San Antonio International Airport, 8.3 mi N | Feb 26 | Nov 28 |
| 78221 | 9a | San Antonio International Airport, 8.3 mi N | Feb 26 | Nov 28 |
| 78223 | 9a | San Antonio International Airport, 8.3 mi N | Feb 26 | Nov 28 |
| 78251 | 9a | San Antonio International Airport, 8.3 mi N | Feb 26 | Nov 28 |
| 78258 | 9a | San Antonio International Airport, 8.3 mi N | Feb 26 | Nov 28 |
| 78264 | 9a | San Antonio International Airport, 8.3 mi N | Feb 26 | Nov 28 |
Planting dates for popular crops in San Antonio
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 8 to 22 | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 15 to 22 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 15 to 29 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 1 to 15 | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Aug 29 to Oct 3 |
| Cilantro | Jan 15 to 29 | Feb 26 to Mar 5 | — |
| Basil | Jan 15 to 29 | Mar 5 to 12 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 5 to 12 | Aug 8 to 15 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 15 to 29 | Nov 28 to Dec 12 |
| Onions | Nov 6 to Dec 18 | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 29 to Sep 12 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 12 to 26 | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 18 to Jan 15 | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 8 to Sep 5 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 5 to 26 | Sep 5 to 26 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 26 to Apr 2 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Sep 5 to 12 |
| Zucchini | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 5 to 19 | Sep 5 to 19 |
| Broccoli | Dec 11 to Jan 1 | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | Sep 12 to Oct 10 |
| Peas | — | Jan 15 to 29 | Sep 5 to 19 |
| Spinach | Jan 15 to 22 | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Sep 19 to Oct 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 26 to Mar 19 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 22 to 29 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 17 to Dec 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 17 to Nov 28 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 15 to 29 | Oct 17 to 31 |
Nearby cities
- New Braunfels, TX zone 9a, last frost Mar 1
- San Marcos, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 28
- Kyle, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 28
- Austin, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Cedar Park, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Leander, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for San Antonio
Questions
When is the last frost in San Antonio?
Around February 26 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for San Antonio International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 17.
What planting zone is San Antonio in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 9a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in San Antonio?
Start seeds indoors January 8 to 22 and set plants out March 5 to 19; the safest date to plant out is after March 17.
When is the first frost in San Antonio?
Around November 28 in a typical year, and before November 7 about 1 year in 10.