US Grow Zones

Grand Prairie, Texas: planting zone & frost dates

Last updated · Sources: PRISM/OSU 2023 ZIP zone listings; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (station USC00414597); U.S. Census Bureau — see methodology

Grand Prairie is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 29 and the first fall frost around Nov 5.

Hardiness zone8B15 to 20°F
Last spring frostMar 2930% chance of frost after
First fall frostNov 530% chance of frost before
Growing season236 daysmedian frost-free days

Frost dates

ProbabilityLast spring frost (32°F)First fall frost (32°F)
Safer (10% risk)Apr 8Oct 27
Typical planning date (30% risk)Mar 29Nov 5
Median (50%)Mar 20Nov 13

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 JOE POOL LAKE, TX (USC00414597), 4.2 mi (6.7 km) from the city center and 62 ft higher than the city center (+19 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 17 years.

Frost probability in spring and fall, Grand Prairie, TXChance of a 32°F frost in Grand Prairie, TX, NOAA 1991–2020. Spring: the chance of another frost falls from 90% on Feb 28 to 10% on Apr 8. Fall: the chance that the first frost has arrived rises from 10% on Oct 27 to 90% on Dec 3.0%50%100%Spring: later frostFeb 15Mar 15Apr 1530%: Mar 29Fall: frost arrivedNov 1Nov 15Dec 1Dec 1530%: Nov 532°F frost28°F hard freezeplanning date
Shaded areas show the chance of a 32°F frost: falling through spring, rising through fall. The dashed line is the 28°F hard-freeze curve. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 Normals, station USC00414597.
Frost-free growing season in Grand Prairie, TX1 in 10 risk: Apr 8 to Oct 27 (202 days); 3 in 10 risk: Mar 29 to Nov 5 (221 days); Median (50%): Mar 20 to Nov 13 (238 days); No 28°F freeze: Mar 8 to Nov 25 (262 days). In 9 of 10 years the 32°F-free season is at least 209 days.Frost-free days, spring to fallJFMAMJJASOND1 in 10 risk202 days3 in 10 risk221 daysMedian (50%)238 daysNo 28°F freeze262 days
Frost-free window at three risk levels, plus the window between 28°F hard freezes. Read about what the probabilities mean.

Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.

Hardiness zone across Grand Prairie

All 6 ZIP codes covering Grand Prairie are in zone 8b.

ZIP codes in Grand Prairie and their zones
ZIPZoneShare of city land
750508b35.4%
750528b33.6%
750518b13.6%
750548b8.2%
760658b5.1%
751048b3.5%

Vegetable planting calendar for Grand Prairie

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.

CropStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop sow/plant
TomatoFeb 1 – Feb 15Apr 5 – Apr 19——
PepperJan 18 – Feb 1Apr 12 – Apr 26——
LettuceFeb 15 – Mar 1Mar 15 – Apr 5Mar 1 – Apr 12Aug 27 – Sep 24
Green Beans——Apr 5 – May 10Aug 13 – Aug 27
Sweet Corn——Apr 5 – May 3—
Zucchini & Summer SquashMar 1 – Mar 8Apr 5 – Apr 19Apr 5 – Apr 26Aug 13 – Aug 27
CucumberMar 1 – Mar 8Apr 12 – Apr 19Apr 5 – Apr 26Aug 13 – Aug 27
Carrot——Mar 8 – Apr 12Aug 13 – Aug 27
OnionJan 4 – Jan 18Mar 1 – Mar 15——
Potato—Mar 1 – Mar 22——
BasilFeb 15 – Mar 1Apr 12 – Apr 26Apr 12 – May 3—
Spinach——Feb 15 – Mar 15Sep 10 – Oct 8
KaleFeb 1 – Feb 15Mar 1 – Mar 22Mar 1 – Mar 22Aug 27 – Sep 24
BroccoliFeb 1 – Feb 15Mar 15 – Apr 5—Aug 13 – Aug 27
Peas——Feb 15 – Mar 8Aug 27 – Sep 10
EggplantJan 18 – Feb 1Apr 12 – Apr 26——
CabbageFeb 1 – Feb 15Mar 1 – Mar 15—Aug 13 – Aug 27
Radish——Feb 22 – Apr 12Sep 24 – Oct 22
Strawberry—Mar 1 – Mar 22——
Beets——Mar 8 – Apr 19Aug 27 – Sep 10

Nearby cities in Texas

More: all Texas cities · other zone 8b cities: Dallas, TX, Fort Worth, TX, El Paso, TX, Virginia Beach, VA, Arlington, TX, Plano, TX, Irving, TX, Garland, TX

Grand Prairie gardening questions

When is the last frost in Grand Prairie, TX?

Plan around Mar 29. At NOAA's Joe Pool Lake, TX station, 4.2 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 8 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Mar 8. The 90% and 10% dates are 39 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.

When should I plant tomatoes in Grand Prairie, 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 Grand Prairie?

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 264 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Oct 27 and a 30% chance by Nov 5. That ranks 49th longest of 55 Texas cities on this site.

When should I plant a fall garden in Grand Prairie?

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 25. How the math works: succession and fall planting.

Did Grand Prairie's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?

Yes. Most of Grand Prairie was zone 8a on the 2012 map and is zone 8b on the 2023 map — half a zone warmer, like about 56% of U.S. ZIP codes. The shift comes from a newer 1991–2020 averaging period plus more weather stations and better mapping; it does not mean last frost comes earlier. Why the 2023 map is warmer.

How does Grand Prairie compare with Arlington, TX?

Both are in zone 8b. The typical last spring frost in Grand Prairie (Mar 29) comes about 13 days later than in Arlington, TX (Mar 16), 6 miles away, and the first fall frost is Nov 5 versus Nov 12. The two cities use different NOAA stations.