Abilene, Texas: planting zone & frost dates
Abilene is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 29 and the first fall frost around Nov 5.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Apr 10 | Oct 28 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Mar 29 | Nov 5 |
| Median (50%) | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station ABILENE RGNL AP, TX (USW00013962), 4.5 mi (7.2 km) from the city center and 72 ft higher than the city center (+22 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 28 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Abilene
All 6 ZIP codes covering Abilene are in zone 8a.
Vegetable planting calendar for Abilene
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 5). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | — | — |
| Pepper | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Aug 27 – Sep 24 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Apr 5 – May 10 | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Apr 5 – May 3 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 1 – Mar 8 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Cucumber | Mar 1 – Mar 8 | Apr 12 – Apr 19 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 8 – Apr 12 | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Onion | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | — | — |
| Basil | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Apr 12 – May 3 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Sep 10 – Oct 8 |
| Kale | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | Aug 27 – Sep 24 |
| Broccoli | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | — | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Peas | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 8 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| Eggplant | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | — | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Radish | — | — | Feb 22 – Apr 12 | Sep 24 – Oct 22 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 8 – Apr 19 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
Nearby cities in Texas
- San Angelo — zone 8a, last frost Apr 1, first frost Nov 4
- Wichita Falls — zone 8a, last frost Apr 2, first frost Nov 4
- Fort Worth — zone 8b, last frost Mar 12, first frost Nov 14
- Midland — zone 8b, last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 3
- Lubbock — zone 7b, last frost Apr 12, first frost Oct 28
- Killeen — zone 8b, last frost Mar 24, first frost Nov 8
More: all Texas cities · other zone 8a cities: Charlotte, NC, Memphis, TN, Atlanta, GA, Raleigh, NC, Greensboro, NC, Durham, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, Chesapeake, VA
Abilene gardening questions
When is the last frost in Abilene, TX?
Plan around Mar 29. At NOAA's Abilene Regional Airport, TX station, 4.5 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Mar 20, and after Apr 10 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Mar 6. The 90% and 10% dates are 40 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Abilene, TX?
Start seeds indoors Feb 1 – Feb 15 and set transplants outside Apr 5 – Apr 19, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 221 days between the 30% frost dates, enough for most varieties including 80–85-day slicers. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Abilene?
About 236 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 209 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 261 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Oct 28 and a 30% chance by Nov 5. That ranks 50th longest of 55 Texas cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Abilene?
Count back from the first fall frost (Nov 5): transplant broccoli Aug 13 – Aug 27; sow kale Aug 27 – Sep 24; sow lettuce Aug 27 – Sep 24; sow radishes Sep 24 – Oct 22. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Nov 23. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Abilene's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Abilene is zone 8a on both the 2012 and the 2023 USDA maps (PRISM/OSU ZIP listings). About 42% of U.S. ZIP codes kept their half-zone in 2023. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
How does Abilene compare with San Angelo, TX?
Both are in zone 8a. The typical last spring frost in Abilene (Mar 29) comes about the same time as in San Angelo, TX (Apr 1), 82 miles away, and the first fall frost is Nov 5 versus Nov 4. Abilene sits about 163 ft lower, which explains part of the gap. The two cities use different NOAA stations.