Waco, Texas planting calendar and frost dates
Waco is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 15 and the first fall frost around November 15, giving about 245 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- March 15
- Typical first frost
- November 15
- Frost-free season
- 245 days
Frost dates in Waco
Last spring frost
- February 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 15Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 6Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 15Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 4Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 245 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 2 and returns around November 28.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 miles NW 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 Waco
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, tomatoes
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, 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, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, 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, broccoli, 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, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, 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
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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Waco
All 10 of Waco's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Waco Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76633 | 8b | Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| 76657 | 8b | Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| 76704 | 8b | Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| 76705 | 8b | Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| 76706 | 8b | Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| 76707 | 8b | Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| 76708 | 8b | Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| 76710 | 8b | Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| 76711 | 8b | Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| 76712 | 8b | Waco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Waco
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 2 to 9 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 1 to 15 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 16 to Sep 20 |
| Cilantro | Feb 1 to 15 | Mar 15 to 22 | — |
| Basil | Feb 1 to 15 | Mar 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 22 to Mar 1 | Jul 26 to Aug 2 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 1 to 15 | Nov 15 to 29 |
| Onions | Nov 23 to Jan 4 | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 16 to 30 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 1 to 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 4 to Feb 1 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Jul 26 to Aug 23 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 22 to Mar 15 | Aug 23 to Sep 13 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 10 to 17 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 23 to 30 |
| Zucchini | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 23 to Sep 6 |
| Broccoli | Dec 28 to Jan 18 | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Aug 30 to Sep 27 |
| Peas | — | Feb 1 to 15 | Aug 23 to Sep 6 |
| Spinach | Feb 1 to 8 | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 6 to Oct 11 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 15 to Apr 5 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 4 to 11 | May 2 to 16 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 4 to Nov 29 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 4 to Nov 15 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 1 to 15 | Oct 4 to 18 |
Nearby cities
- Temple, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 14
- Killeen, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 14
- Waxahachie, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 16
- Burleson, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 11
- Georgetown, TX zone 9a, last frost Mar 6
- Mansfield, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 9
Planting in TexasAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Waco
Questions
When is the last frost in Waco?
Around March 15 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Waco Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 6.
What planting zone is Waco 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 Waco?
Start seeds indoors January 24 to February 7 and set plants out March 21 to April 4; the safest date to plant out is after April 6.
When is the first frost in Waco?
Around November 15 in a typical year, and before November 1 about 1 year in 10.