Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 78244 (San Antonio, 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, San Antonio Incarnate Word, TX (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)277 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
71°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station EAA Field Research Park, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 83°, Fri 77°, Sat 71°.
4-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station EAA Field Research Park, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 83°, Fri 78°, Sat 73°.
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 78244 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 73°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 Apr 12 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
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 3–24
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 3–24
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 3–31
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 17–31
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 17–Nov 14
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 17–Nov 14
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 28: 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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 19 |
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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 21 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 10 | Nov 16 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 25 | Nov 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 5 | Dec 15 |
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 78244
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 25) and first fall frost (Nov 28). 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 31–Jan 14 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 17–31 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 8–29 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 17–31 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 8–29 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 4–25 (transplant) Jan 28–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–24 (transplant) Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (transplant) Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Jan 28–Feb 25 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (transplant) Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 17–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 17–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 3–17 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 8–29 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–31 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 21–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 17–31 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 3–17 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 3–17 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 17–Nov 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Oct 17–Nov 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 8–22 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 3–17 | Mar 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 14–28 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (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 25 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: San Antonio Incarnate Word, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00417947), elevation 700 ft, 7.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph AFB, TX | 7 mi | Feb 21 | Dec 5 |
| San Antonio Intl AP, TX | 9 mi | Feb 26 | Nov 28 |
| San Antonio Stinson AP, TX | 12 mi | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78244
When is the last frost in 78244?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78244 is February 25. For a more cautious planting date, use March 19, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78244?
The average first fall freeze is November 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 7.
What hardiness zone is 78244?
ZIP 78244 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 78244 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
78239 Windcrest 78218 San Antonio 78219 San Antonio 78109 Converse 78220 San Antonio 78234 San Antonio 78233 San Antonio 78148 Universal City
Other ZIP codes in Bexar County
78002 78023 78073 78101 78109 78112 78148 78150 78152 78154 78201 78202 78203 78204 78205 78207 78208 78209 78210 78211 78212 78213 78214 78215 All Bexar County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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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.