Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 79911 (El Paso, 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, La Tuna 1 S, TX (5 miles away).
Use with caution
The nearest station is far away or at a very different elevation, so local dates may differ a lot.
- Average last spring frostFeb 2850% 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)264 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 62°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of PGF Fabens (39 mi), Jornada Exp Range (44 mi), Las Cruces 20 N (48 mi).
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of PGF Fabens (39 mi), Jornada Exp Range (44 mi), Las Cruces 20 N (48 mi).
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 79911 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). 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 15 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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 17 |
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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 3 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 16 | Nov 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 28 | Nov 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 10 | Dec 1 |
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 79911
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 28) 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 3–17 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 3–17 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 3–17 | Feb 7–28 (transplant) Jan 31–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 17–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 3–17 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 3–17 | Jan 31–Feb 28 (transplant) Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 6–20 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 3–17 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 24–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 6–20 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 6–20 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 31–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 31–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 31–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 31–Feb 7 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 31–Feb 7 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 17–31 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 6–20 | Mar 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 17–31 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (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 February 28 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: La Tuna 1 S, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00414931), elevation 3,870 ft, 4.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa AP, NM | 11 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 11 |
| El Paso Intl AP, TX | 13 mi | Mar 2 | Nov 20 |
| State Univ, NM | 27 mi | Mar 12 | Nov 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 26 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 79911
When is the last frost in 79911?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 79911 is February 28. For a more cautious planting date, use March 17, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 79911?
The average first fall freeze is November 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 5.
What hardiness zone is 79911?
ZIP 79911 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 79911 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
79835 Canutillo 79821 Anthony 79932 El Paso 79912 El Paso 79934 El Paso 79904 El Paso 79924 El Paso 79922 El Paso
Other ZIP codes in El Paso County
79821 79835 79836 79838 79849 79853 79901 79902 79903 79904 79905 79906 79907 79908 79912 79915 79916 79918 79920 79922 79924 79925 79927 79928 All El Paso 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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- 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.