Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 78726 (Austin, 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, Austin Great Hills, TX (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)254 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 78726 (Austin)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 78726, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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 70°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Texas State University Round Rock, 14 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 83°, Fri 76°, Sat 70°.
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Texas State University Round Rock, 14 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 83°, Fri 78°, 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 78726 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 Apr 26 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 25–Oct 23
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 20: 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 22 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 29 |
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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 9 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 25 | Nov 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 11 | Nov 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 1 | Dec 3 |
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 78726
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 11) and first fall frost (Nov 20). 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 14–28 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 14–28 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 14–28 | Feb 18–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 18 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 4–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 17–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 11–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 11–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 11–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 11–18 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 11–18 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 17–31 | Mar 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (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 11 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Austin Great Hills, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00410433), elevation 880 ft, 4.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-camp Mabry, TX | 9 mi | Feb 20 | Dec 3 |
| Austin 6S, TX | 16 mi | Mar 10 | Nov 17 |
| Dripping Springs 6 E, TX | 17 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 28 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78726
When is the last frost in 78726?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78726 is March 11. For a more cautious planting date, use March 29, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78726?
The average first fall freeze is November 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 3.
What hardiness zone is 78726?
ZIP 78726 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 78726 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
78750 Austin 78730 Austin 78732 Steiner Ranch 78759 Austin 78729 Austin 78613 Cedar Park 78717 Austin 78731 Austin
Other ZIP codes in Travis County
78617 78641 78645 78652 78653 78660 78669 78701 78702 78703 78704 78705 78712 78719 78721 78722 78723 78724 78725 78727 78728 78730 78731 78732 All Travis County frost dates · Texas frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.