San Marcos, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
San Marcos is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 28 and the first fall frost around November 29, giving about 273 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- February 28
- Typical first frost
- November 29
- Frost-free season
- 273 days
Frost dates in San Marcos
Last spring frost
- February 1Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 28Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 21Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 8Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 29Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 21Late: 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 15.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for San Marcos, 2.1 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 San Marcos
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, 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: basil, 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: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, 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, 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, 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, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, 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 Marcos
All 2 of San Marcos's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from San Marcos, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78656 | 9a | San Marcos, 8.6 mi W | Feb 28 | Nov 29 |
| 78666 | 9a | San Marcos, 2.1 mi E | Feb 28 | Nov 29 |
San Marcos also supplies the frost dates for Kyle, so their planting calendars match San Marcos's.
Planting dates for popular crops in San Marcos
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 14 to 28 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 16 to 23 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 17 to 31 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 3 to 17 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 30 to Oct 4 |
| Cilantro | Jan 17 to 31 | Feb 28 to Mar 7 | — |
| Basil | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Mar 11 to 18 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 7 to 14 | Aug 9 to 16 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 17 to 31 | Nov 29 to Dec 13 |
| Onions | Nov 8 to Dec 20 | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 11 to 25 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 30 to Sep 13 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 14 to 28 | Mar 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 24 to Jan 21 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 9 to Sep 6 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 7 to 28 | Sep 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 1 to 8 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 4 to 18 | Mar 11 to 25 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 23 to Sep 6 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 11 to 25 | Sep 6 to 13 |
| Zucchini | Feb 11 to 25 | Mar 11 to 25 | Sep 6 to 20 |
| Broccoli | Dec 13 to Jan 3 | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Sep 13 to Oct 11 |
| Peas | — | Jan 17 to 31 | Sep 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Jan 17 to 24 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Sep 20 to Oct 25 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 28 to Mar 21 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 29 to Apr 5 | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 18 to Dec 13 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 18 to Nov 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 17 to 31 | Oct 18 to Nov 1 |
Nearby cities
- Kyle, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 28
- New Braunfels, TX zone 9a, last frost Mar 1
- Austin, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Pflugerville, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Cedar Park, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- San Antonio, TX zone 8b, last frost Feb 26
Planting in TexasAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for San Marcos
Questions
When is the last frost in San Marcos?
Around February 28 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for San Marcos. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 21.
What planting zone is San Marcos 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 San Marcos?
Start seeds indoors January 14 to 28 and set plants out March 11 to 25; the safest date to plant out is after March 21.
When is the first frost in San Marcos?
Around November 29 in a typical year, and before November 8 about 1 year in 10.