Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 79553 (Stamford, 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, Stamford 1, TX (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)234 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 79553 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-February to mid-March; fall 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 May 8 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 11: 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) | Mar 2 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 23 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 12 |
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) | Oct 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 11 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 29 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 4 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 23 | Nov 11 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 8 | Nov 20 |
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 79553
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 11). 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 26–Feb 9 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 12–26 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 12–26 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 2–23 (transplant) Feb 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (transplant) Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 23 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 12–26 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 12–26 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 9–23 | Mar 9–30 (transplant) Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 16–Mar 30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 30–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 9–23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (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 23 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Stamford 1, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00418583), elevation 1,612 ft, 2.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anson, TX | 12 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 6 |
| Haskell, TX | 17 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 7 |
| Aspermont, TX | 27 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 79553
When is the last frost in 79553?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 79553 is March 23. For a more cautious planting date, use April 12, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 79553?
The average first fall freeze is November 11. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 28.
What hardiness zone is 79553?
ZIP 79553 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 79553 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
79548 79503 79501 Anson 79520 Hamlin 79521 Haskell 79547 Rule 79533 Lueders 79540
Other ZIP codes in Jones County
79501 79503 79520 79525 79601 All Jones 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.