Temple, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Temple is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 14 and the first fall frost around November 20, giving about 251 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 14
- Typical first frost
- November 20
- Frost-free season
- 251 days
Frost dates in Temple
Last spring frost
- February 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 14Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 4Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 20Typical: 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 251 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 March 1 and returns around December 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Stillhouse Hollow Dam, 8.3 miles SW 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 Temple
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, 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, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, 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
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, 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
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: 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
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
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, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Temple
All 4 of Temple's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Stillhouse Hollow Dam, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8b in 76502, 76504, 76513, and 9a in 76501.
Planting dates for popular crops in Temple
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 7 to 14 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 17 to 31 | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Cilantro | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 21 | — |
| Basil | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 21 to 28 | Jul 31 to Aug 7 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Nov 20 to Dec 4 |
| Onions | Nov 22 to Jan 3 | Feb 14 to 28 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 21 to Sep 4 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 5 to Feb 2 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 21 to Mar 14 | Aug 28 to Sep 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 12 to 19 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Aug 14 to 28 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 28 to Sep 4 |
| Zucchini | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Broccoli | Dec 27 to Jan 17 | Feb 14 to 28 | Sep 4 to Oct 2 |
| Peas | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Spinach | Jan 31 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 11 to Oct 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 14 to Apr 4 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 to 12 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 9 to Dec 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 9 to Nov 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Oct 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Killeen, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 14
- Waco, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 15
- Georgetown, TX zone 9a, last frost Mar 6
- Round Rock, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Leander, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
- Pflugerville, TX zone 9a, last frost Feb 20
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Temple
Questions
When is the last frost in Temple?
Around March 14 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Stillhouse Hollow Dam. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 4.
What planting zone is Temple 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 Temple?
Start seeds indoors January 26 to February 9 and set plants out March 23 to April 6; the safest date to plant out is after April 4.
When is the first frost in Temple?
Around November 20 in a typical year, and before October 29 about 1 year in 10.