US Grow Zones

Killeen, Texas: planting zone & frost dates

Last updated · Sources: PRISM/OSU 2023 ZIP zone listings; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (station USC00414792); U.S. Census Bureau — see methodology

Killeen 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 24 and the first fall frost around Nov 8.

Hardiness zone8B15 to 20°F
Last spring frostMar 2430% chance of frost after
First fall frostNov 830% chance of frost before
Growing season247 daysmedian frost-free days

Frost dates

ProbabilityLast spring frost (32°F)First fall frost (32°F)
Safer (10% risk)Apr 4Nov 1
Typical planning date (30% risk)Mar 24Nov 8
Median (50%)Mar 14Nov 17

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 KILLEEN, TX (USC00414792), 2.5 mi (4.0 km) from the city center and 66 ft lower than the city center (-20 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 13 years.

Frost probability in spring and fall, Killeen, TXChance of a 32°F frost in Killeen, TX, NOAA 1991–2020. Spring: the chance of another frost falls from 90% on Feb 24 to 10% on Apr 4. Fall: the chance that the first frost has arrived rises from 10% on Nov 1 to 90% on Dec 6.0%50%100%Spring: later frostFeb 1Mar 1Apr 130%: Mar 24Fall: frost arrivedNov 1Nov 15Dec 1Dec 1530%: Nov 832°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 USC00414792.
Frost-free growing season in Killeen, TX1 in 10 risk: Apr 4 to Nov 1 (211 days); 3 in 10 risk: Mar 24 to Nov 8 (229 days); Median (50%): Mar 14 to Nov 17 (248 days); No 28°F freeze: Mar 2 to Nov 30 (273 days). In 9 of 10 years the 32°F-free season is at least 217 days.Frost-free days, spring to fallJFMAMJJASOND1 in 10 risk211 days3 in 10 risk229 daysMedian (50%)248 daysNo 28°F freeze273 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 Killeen

All 5 ZIP codes covering Killeen are in zone 8b.

ZIP codes in Killeen and their zones
ZIPZoneShare of city land
765428b40.1%
765498b27.3%
765438b21.0%
765418b8.7%
765718b2.8%

Vegetable planting calendar for Killeen

Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 24, first frost Nov 8). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.

CropStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop sow/plant
TomatoJan 27 – Feb 10Mar 31 – Apr 14——
PepperJan 13 – Jan 27Apr 7 – Apr 21——
LettuceFeb 10 – Feb 24Mar 10 – Mar 31Feb 24 – Apr 7Aug 30 – Sep 27
Green Beans——Mar 31 – May 5Aug 16 – Aug 30
Sweet Corn——Mar 31 – Apr 28—
Zucchini & Summer SquashFeb 24 – Mar 3Mar 31 – Apr 14Mar 31 – Apr 21Aug 16 – Aug 30
CucumberFeb 24 – Mar 3Apr 7 – Apr 14Mar 31 – Apr 21Aug 16 – Aug 30
Carrot——Mar 3 – Apr 7Aug 16 – Aug 30
OnionDec 30 – Jan 13Feb 24 – Mar 10——
Potato—Feb 24 – Mar 17——
BasilFeb 10 – Feb 24Apr 7 – Apr 21Apr 7 – Apr 28—
Spinach——Feb 10 – Mar 10Sep 13 – Oct 11
KaleJan 27 – Feb 10Feb 24 – Mar 17Feb 24 – Mar 17Aug 30 – Sep 27
BroccoliJan 27 – Feb 10Mar 10 – Mar 31—Aug 16 – Aug 30
Peas——Feb 10 – Mar 3Aug 30 – Sep 13
EggplantJan 13 – Jan 27Apr 7 – Apr 21——
CabbageJan 27 – Feb 10Feb 24 – Mar 10—Aug 16 – Aug 30
Radish——Feb 17 – Apr 7Sep 27 – Oct 25
Strawberry—Feb 24 – Mar 17——
Beets——Mar 3 – Apr 14Aug 30 – Sep 13

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

Killeen gardening questions

When is the last frost in Killeen, TX?

Plan around Mar 24. At NOAA's Killeen, TX station, 2.5 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 14, and after Apr 4 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Mar 2. 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 Killeen, TX?

Start seeds indoors Jan 27 – Feb 10 and set transplants outside Mar 31 – Apr 14, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 229 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 Killeen?

About 247 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 217 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 276 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 1 and a 30% chance by Nov 8. That ranks 45th longest of 55 Texas cities on this site.

When should I plant a fall garden in Killeen?

Count back from the first fall frost (Nov 8): transplant broccoli Aug 16 – Aug 30; sow kale Aug 30 – Sep 27; sow lettuce Aug 30 – Sep 27; sow radishes Sep 27 – Oct 25. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Nov 30. How the math works: succession and fall planting.

Did Killeen's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?

No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Killeen is zone 8b 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 Killeen compare with Temple, TX?

Both are in zone 8b. The typical last spring frost in Killeen (Mar 24) comes about the same time as in Temple, TX (Mar 22), 20 miles away, and the first fall frost is Nov 8 versus Nov 11. Killeen sits about 276 ft higher, which explains part of the gap. The two cities use different NOAA stations.