Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 78045 (Laredo, 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, Encinal, TX (21 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)296 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°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
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Chaparral WMA (37 mi), Great Horizon Ranch (50 mi).
4-inch depth
79°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 79°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Chaparral WMA (37 mi), Great Horizon Ranch (50 mi).
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 78045 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 79°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically October to early November).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- St. Augustinegrass (warm-season): Spring: About 2–3 weeks after full green-up (May in the Carolinas; earlier in Florida and south Texas) (about Apr 1 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Light feedings June–August where local rules allow; Last: No later than about mid-September in the Carolinas, about 6–8 weeks before first frost elsewhere. Avoid: Feeding before green-up or late in fall (feeds weeds and favors large patch and cold injury).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 28
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 14–Nov 4
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 4
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 11
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 25
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 25
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 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) | Jan 16 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 16 |
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) | Nov 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 8 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 6 | Nov 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 21 | Dec 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 31 | Dec 27 |
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 78045
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 21) and first fall frost (Dec 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 | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 13–27 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 13–27 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 31–Feb 21 (transplant) Jan 24–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–Nov 4 (transplant) Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 21 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 13–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 13–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 13–27 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 10–24 | Feb 7–28 (transplant) Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 17–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 27–Jan 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 28–Nov 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Oct 28–Nov 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 24–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 24–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 24–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 24–31 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 24–31 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Feb 28–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 10–24 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 13–27 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 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 February 21 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Encinal, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00412906), elevation 545 ft, 20.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo 2, TX | 21 mi | Jan 25 | Dec 17 |
| Laredo AFB, TX | 25 mi | Jan 20 | Dec 25 |
| Carrizo Springs 3S, TX | 47 mi | Mar 5 | Nov 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 47 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78045
When is the last frost in 78045?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78045 is February 21. For a more cautious planting date, use March 16, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78045?
The average first fall freeze is December 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 21.
What hardiness zone is 78045?
ZIP 78045 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 78045 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
78041 Laredo 78040 Laredo 78019 Encinal 78044 Ranchitos Las Lomas 78043 Laredo 78836 Catarina 78046 Laredo 78001
Other ZIP codes in Webb County
78019 78040 78041 78043 78044 78046 78344 78369 78371 All Webb County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.