Fall in zone 10aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 78537 (Donna, 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, Weslaco, TX (5 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 44% of years (about 1 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostJan 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)year-round in a typical yearmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone10a30 to 35°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
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Weslaco, 6 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 85°, Fri 81°, Sat 77°.
4-inch depth
78°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 76°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Weslaco, 6 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 85°, Fri 83°, Sat 79°.
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 78537 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 78°F at 4 inches. 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 Feb 16 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
- Kale: fall sowing Sep 24–Oct 22
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 8–Nov 5
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 24–Oct 22
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 8–Nov 5
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 24–Oct 22
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 24–Oct 22
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 24–Oct 22
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 16–30
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 16–30
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 16–30
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 16–30
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Oct 30–Nov 13
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Oct 30–Nov 13
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 22–Nov 19
- Lettuce: fall transplant Nov 5–26
- Spinach: fall sowing Nov 5–26
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Oct 30–Nov 13
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Oct 30–Nov 13
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Oct 30–Nov 13
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 22–Nov 5
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Nov 5–19
- Arugula: fall sowing Nov 5–Dec 3
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Nov 5–19
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | Dec 8 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 18 |
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) | Dec 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 31 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 7 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jan 28 | Dec 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 8 | Dec 31 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | n/a | n/a |
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 78537
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 8) and first fall frost (Dec 31). 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 | Nov 13–27 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Oct 30–Nov 13 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | Sep 10–Oct 1 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Oct 30–Nov 13 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | Sep 10–Oct 1 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 13–27 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 13–27 | Dec 18–Jan 8 (transplant) Dec 11–Jan 22 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–26 (transplant) Oct 22–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 27–Dec 18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 13–27 | Dec 11–25 (transplant) Dec 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–Nov 5 (transplant) Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 13–27 | Dec 11–Jan 8 (transplant) Dec 11–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–Nov 5 (transplant) Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Oct 30–Nov 13 | Dec 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Oct 30–Nov 13 | Dec 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Oct 30–Nov 13 | Dec 25–Jan 8 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 16–30 | Dec 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 10–Oct 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 13–27 | Dec 11–25 (transplant) Dec 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 11–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–Dec 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 11–Jan 1 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Dec 25–Jan 15 (transplant) Dec 25–Jan 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 11–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 18–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 4–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Nov 19–Dec 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 11–Jan 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 18–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 13–Dec 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 16–30 | Nov 27–Dec 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 27–Dec 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 16–30 | Dec 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 19–Dec 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 27–Dec 11 (transplant) | Nov 19–Dec 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 10–24 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 22–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 11–18 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 11–18 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 11–18 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 11–18 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 22–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 11–18 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 22–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 22–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 16–30 | Jan 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 25–Jan 22 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Oct 30–Nov 13 | Dec 25–Jan 8 (transplant) Dec 18–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 11–25 (transplant) | Oct 22–Nov 19 (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 January 8 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Weslaco, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00419588), elevation 75 ft, 5.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburg, TX | 11 mi | Jan 8 | Jan 2 (next year) |
| Mcallen, TX | 12 mi | Jan 9 | Jan 1 (next year) |
| Mcallen Miller Intl AP, TX | 12 mi | Jan 9 | Jan 3 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 1 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78537
When is the last frost in 78537?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78537 is January 8. For a more cautious planting date, use February 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78537?
The average first fall freeze is December 31. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 3.
What hardiness zone is 78537?
ZIP 78537 is in USDA zone 10a (30 to 35°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 78537 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
78516 Alamo 78599 Weslaco 78596 Weslaco 78589 San Juan 78577 Pharr 78558 La Blanca 78579 Progreso 78570 Mercedes
Other ZIP codes in Hidalgo County
78501 78503 78504 78516 78538 78539 78540 78541 78542 78543 78549 78557 78558 78560 78562 78563 78565 78570 78572 78573 78574 78576 78577 78579 All Hidalgo 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.