Mission, Texas: planting zone & frost dates
Mission is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 30 to 35°F (-1.1 to 1.7°C). The typical last spring frost is around Jan 29 and the first fall frost around Dec 26.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Feb 13 | Dec 11 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jan 29 | Dec 26 |
| Median (50%) | Jan 9 | Jan 3 |
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 MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP, TX (USW00012959), 4.7 mi (7.5 km) from the city center and 16 ft lower than the city center (-5 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 22 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Mission
All 3 ZIP codes covering Mission are in zone 10a.
Vegetable planting calendar for Mission
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jan 29, first frost Dec 26). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 4 – Dec 18 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | — |
| Pepper | Nov 20 – Dec 4 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Jan 15 – Feb 5 | Jan 1 – Feb 12 | Oct 17 – Nov 14 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Feb 5 – Mar 12 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Feb 5 – Mar 5 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Jan 1 – Jan 8 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Feb 5 – Feb 26 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 |
| Cucumber | Jan 1 – Jan 8 | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | Feb 5 – Feb 26 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 8 – Feb 12 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 6 – Nov 20 | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Jan 1 – Jan 22 | — | — |
| Basil | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 12 – Mar 5 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 18 – Jan 15 | Oct 31 – Nov 28 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 4 – Dec 18 | Jan 1 – Jan 22 | Jan 1 – Jan 22 | Oct 17 – Nov 14 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 4 – Dec 18 | Jan 15 – Feb 5 | — | Oct 3 – Oct 17 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 18 – Jan 8 | Oct 17 – Oct 31 |
| Eggplant | Nov 20 – Dec 4 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 4 – Dec 18 | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | — | Oct 3 – Oct 17 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 25 – Feb 12 | Nov 14 – Dec 12 |
| Strawberry | — | Jan 1 – Jan 22 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 8 – Feb 19 | Oct 17 – Oct 31 |
Nearby cities in Texas
- McAllen — zone 10a, last frost Jan 30, first frost Dec 22
- Pharr — zone 10a, last frost Jan 29, first frost Dec 26
- Edinburg — zone 10a, last frost Jan 27, first frost Dec 24
- Brownsville — zone 10a, last frost Jan 13, first frost Dec 24
- Laredo — zone 9b, last frost Feb 5, first frost Dec 6
- Corpus Christi — zone 10a, last frost Jan 31, first frost Jan 1
More: all Texas cities · other zone 10a cities: Los Angeles, CA, Oakland, CA, Tampa, FL, Orlando, FL, Riverside, CA, Corpus Christi, TX, Port St. Lucie, FL, Scottsdale, AZ
Mission gardening questions
When is the last frost in Mission, TX?
Plan around Jan 29. At NOAA's Mcallen Miller Int'l Airport, TX station, 4.7 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 Jan 9, and after Feb 13 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. Springs here are erratic: 58 days separate the 90% and 10% dates, versus a median of 36 days for cities on this site, so watch the forecast rather than the calendar.
When should I plant tomatoes in Mission, TX?
Start seeds indoors Dec 4 – Dec 18 and set transplants outside Feb 5 – Feb 19, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 331 frost-free days, frost is not the main limit — fruit set drops when nights stay above about 75°F, so early plantings tend to do best. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Mission?
About 365 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 341 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 365 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Dec 11 and a 30% chance by Dec 26. That ranks 5th longest of 55 Texas cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Mission?
Count back from the first fall frost (Dec 26): transplant broccoli Oct 3 – Oct 17; sow kale Oct 17 – Nov 14; sow lettuce Oct 17 – Nov 14; sow radishes Nov 14 – Dec 12. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Mission's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
Yes. Most of Mission was zone 9b on the 2012 map and is zone 10a 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 Mission compare with McAllen, TX?
Both are in zone 10a. The typical last spring frost in Mission (Jan 29) comes about the same time as in McAllen, TX (Jan 30), 5 miles away, and the first fall frost is Dec 26 versus Dec 22. The two cities use different NOAA stations.