Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 78935 (Colorado 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, Columbus, TX (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 950% 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)255 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
75°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Wegenhoft, 14 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 81°, Fri 78°, Sat 75°.
4-inch depth
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 75°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Wegenhoft, 14 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 81°, Fri 79°, Sat 76°.
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 78935 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 76°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically September to early October).
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 24 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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 31 |
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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 13 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 9 | Nov 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 25 | 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 78935
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 9) 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 12–26 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 12–26 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 12–26 | Feb 16–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 9–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 26–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) Feb 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 15–29 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) Feb 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 16 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 2–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 12–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 15–29 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 15–29 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 30–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 9–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 9–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 9–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 9–16 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 9–16 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 15–29 | Mar 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 9–23 (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 9 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Columbus, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00411911), elevation 225 ft, 8.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Lake Resch Ctr, TX | 6 mi | Feb 21 | Dec 1 |
| Sealy, TX | 18 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 30 |
| Bellville 6NNE, TX | 26 mi | Feb 28 | Dec 2 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 19 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78935
When is the last frost in 78935?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78935 is March 9. For a more cautious planting date, use March 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78935?
The average first fall freeze is November 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 1.
What hardiness zone is 78935?
ZIP 78935 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 78935 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
78933 78934 Columbus 77412 78943 Glidden 77470 Rock Island 77434 Eagle Lake 78950 New Ulm 77474 Sealy
Other ZIP codes in Colorado County
77412 77434 77442 77460 77470 77475 78933 78934 78943 78951 78962 All Colorado 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.