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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.

Hardiness zone
Zone 8b (parts in 9a)
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

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. July

    Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. November

    Start indoors: onions

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  11. 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.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
765019aStillhouse Hollow Dam, 16.5 mi WMar 14Nov 20
765028bStillhouse Hollow Dam, 8.3 mi SWMar 14Nov 20
765048bStillhouse Hollow Dam, 11.6 mi SWMar 14Nov 20
765138bStillhouse Hollow Dam, 2 mi SWMar 14Nov 20

Planting dates for popular crops in Temple

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 7 to 14
Strawberries—Jan 31 to Feb 14—
LettuceJan 17 to 31Mar 7 to 21Aug 21 to Sep 25
CilantroJan 31 to Feb 14Mar 14 to 21—
BasilFeb 2 to 16Mar 23 to 30—
Potatoes—Feb 21 to 28Jul 31 to Aug 7
Garlic—Jan 31 to Feb 14Nov 20 to Dec 4
OnionsNov 22 to Jan 3Feb 14 to 28—
CucumbersFeb 23 to Mar 9Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 21 to Sep 4
PumpkinsFeb 28 to Mar 14Mar 28 to Apr 11—
PeppersJan 5 to Feb 2Mar 23 to Apr 6Jul 31 to Aug 28
Carrots—Feb 21 to Mar 14Aug 28 to Sep 18
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 12 to 19—
WatermelonsFeb 16 to Mar 2Mar 23 to Apr 6—
Sweet Corn—Mar 14 to 28Aug 14 to 28
Green Beans—Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 28 to Sep 4
ZucchiniFeb 23 to Mar 9Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 28 to Sep 11
BroccoliDec 27 to Jan 17Feb 14 to 28Sep 4 to Oct 2
Peas—Jan 31 to Feb 14Aug 28 to Sep 11
SpinachJan 31 to Feb 7Mar 7 to 21Sep 11 to Oct 16
Sunflowers—Mar 14 to Apr 4—
ZinniasApr 5 to 12May 3 to 17—
Tulips——Oct 9 to Dec 4
Daffodils——Oct 9 to Nov 20
Grass Seed—Jan 31 to Feb 14Oct 9 to 23

Nearby cities

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.