Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 76685 (Falls County, TX)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Marlin, TX (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)234 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Riesel, 12 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 81°, Fri 74°, Sat 70°.
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 71°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Riesel, 12 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 81°, Fri 77°, Sat 72°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 76685 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 72°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: South Central plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 6 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 9: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 27 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 10 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 26 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 3 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 21 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 8 | Nov 18 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 76685
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 21) and first fall frost (Nov 9). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 10–24 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 10–24 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 28–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–28 (transplant) Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 14–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 21–28 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 21–28 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Mar 28–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 7–21 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Texas A&M AgriLife trials name plants that handle Texas conditions: the Texas Superstar® list and the low-care roses from AgriLife trials. Plant frost-tender annuals after March 21 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Marlin, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00415611), elevation 407 ft, 8.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco Dam, TX | 22 mi | Mar 9 | Nov 20 |
| Waco Rgnl AP, TX | 23 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| Mcgregor, TX | 24 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 18 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 12 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 76685
When is the last frost in 76685?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 76685 is March 21. For a more cautious planting date, use April 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 76685?
The average first fall freeze is November 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 76685?
ZIP 76685 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 76685 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
76632 Chilton 76706 Robinson 76682 Riesel 76661 Marlin 76655 Robinson 76656 Lott 76524 Bruceville-Eddy 76630 Bruceville-Eddy
Other ZIP codes in Falls County
76524 76570 76632 76656 76661 76680 76682 All Falls County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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