Austin, TX Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Austin garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 10
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 17
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
252 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
9a
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Feb 20 Mar 10 Mar 31
First fall frost Dec 6 Nov 17 Nov 1
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Feb 28 · first Dec 1

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Austin 6S station (5 km from central Austin). "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Austin

Computed from Austin's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-9 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Jan 13 – Jan 27 Mar 17 – Mar 24
🫑 Peppers Dec 30 – Jan 13 Mar 24 – Mar 31
🥬 Lettuce Jan 27 – Feb 10 Feb 10 – Feb 24 Feb 10 – Mar 10
🫛 Peas Jan 27 – Feb 10
🥕 Carrots Feb 17 – Mar 10
🥦 Broccoli Jan 20 – Feb 3 Feb 17 – Mar 3
🥬 Kale Jan 27 – Feb 10 Feb 10 – Feb 24 Feb 10 – Feb 24
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 10 – Feb 17 Mar 17 – Mar 24 Mar 17 – Mar 24
🥒 Zucchini Feb 10 – Feb 17 Mar 17 – Mar 24 Mar 17 – Mar 24
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 17 – Mar 24
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 17 – Mar 24
🌿 Basil Jan 27 – Feb 10 Mar 17 – Mar 24 Mar 24 – Mar 31
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 6 – Nov 3

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Austin's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Austin

With roughly 252 frost-free days, Austin gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 17 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Austin, TX?

The average last spring frost in Austin is around Mar 10, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Austin, TX?

The average first fall frost in Austin arrives around Nov 17. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Austin?

About 252 frost-free days on average, from Mar 10 to Nov 17. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Austin in?

USDA zone 9a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.