Brownsville, TX Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Jan 6
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Jan 2
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
361 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 9b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 11 Jan 6 Feb 1
First fall frost Jan 29 Jan 2 Dec 8

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the BROWNSVILLE station. "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 Brownsville

Computed from Brownsville'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 Nov 11 – Nov 25 Jan 13 – Jan 20
🫑 Peppers Oct 28 – Nov 11 Jan 20 – Jan 27
🥬 Lettuce Nov 25 – Dec 9 Dec 9 – Dec 23 Dec 9 – Jan 6
🫛 Peas Nov 25 – Dec 9
🥕 Carrots Dec 16 – Jan 6
🥦 Broccoli Nov 18 – Dec 2 Dec 16 – Dec 30
🥬 Kale Nov 25 – Dec 9 Dec 9 – Dec 23 Dec 9 – Dec 23
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 9 – Dec 16 Jan 13 – Jan 20 Jan 13 – Jan 20
🥒 Zucchini Dec 9 – Dec 16 Jan 13 – Jan 20 Jan 13 – Jan 20
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jan 13 – Jan 20
🌽 Sweet Corn Jan 13 – Jan 20
🌿 Basil Nov 25 – Dec 9 Jan 13 – Jan 20 Jan 20 – Jan 27
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 21 – Dec 19

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 Brownsville's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Brownsville

With roughly 361 frost-free days, Brownsville 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 Jan 2 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Brownsville, TX?

The average last spring frost in Brownsville is around Jan 6, 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 Brownsville, TX?

The average first fall frost in Brownsville arrives around Jan 2. 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 Brownsville?

About 361 frost-free days on average, from Jan 6 to Jan 2. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Brownsville in?

USDA zone 9b 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.