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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

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  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, broccoli, 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, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini

  9. 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

  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

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 codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
766338bWaco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NWMar 15Nov 15
766578bWaco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NWMar 15Nov 15
767048bWaco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NWMar 15Nov 15
767058bWaco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NWMar 15Nov 15
767068bWaco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NWMar 15Nov 15
767078bWaco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NWMar 15Nov 15
767088bWaco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NWMar 15Nov 15
767108bWaco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NWMar 15Nov 15
767118bWaco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NWMar 15Nov 15
767128bWaco Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NWMar 15Nov 15

Planting dates for popular crops in Waco

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesJan 24 to Feb 7Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 2 to 9
Strawberries—Feb 1 to 15—
LettuceJan 18 to Feb 1Mar 8 to 22Aug 16 to Sep 20
CilantroFeb 1 to 15Mar 15 to 22—
BasilFeb 1 to 15Mar 22 to 29—
Potatoes—Feb 22 to Mar 1Jul 26 to Aug 2
Garlic—Feb 1 to 15Nov 15 to 29
OnionsNov 23 to Jan 4Feb 15 to Mar 1—
CucumbersFeb 22 to Mar 8Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 16 to 30
PumpkinsMar 1 to 15Mar 29 to Apr 12—
PeppersJan 4 to Feb 1Mar 22 to Apr 5Jul 26 to Aug 23
Carrots—Feb 22 to Mar 15Aug 23 to Sep 13
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 10 to 17—
WatermelonsFeb 15 to Mar 1Mar 22 to Apr 5—
Sweet Corn—Mar 15 to 29Aug 9 to 23
Green Beans—Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 23 to 30
ZucchiniFeb 22 to Mar 8Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 23 to Sep 6
BroccoliDec 28 to Jan 18Feb 15 to Mar 1Aug 30 to Sep 27
Peas—Feb 1 to 15Aug 23 to Sep 6
SpinachFeb 1 to 8Mar 8 to 22Sep 6 to Oct 11
Sunflowers—Mar 15 to Apr 5—
ZinniasApr 4 to 11May 2 to 16—
Tulips——Oct 4 to Nov 29
Daffodils——Oct 4 to Nov 15
Grass Seed—Feb 1 to 15Oct 4 to 18

Nearby cities

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.