US Grow Zones

New Braunfels, Texas: planting zone & frost dates

Last updated · Sources: PRISM/OSU 2023 ZIP zone listings; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (station USC00416276); U.S. Census Bureau — see methodology

New Braunfels is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 18 and the first fall frost around Nov 10.

Hardiness zone9A20 to 25°F
Last spring frostMar 1830% chance of frost after
First fall frostNov 1030% chance of frost before
Growing season253 daysmedian frost-free days

Frost dates

ProbabilityLast spring frost (32°F)First fall frost (32°F)
Safer (10% risk)Apr 1Nov 2
Typical planning date (30% risk)Mar 18Nov 10
Median (50%)Mar 8Nov 18

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 NEW BRAUNFELS, TX (USC00416276), 4.0 mi (6.4 km) from the city center and 102 ft higher than the city center (+31 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 22 years.

Frost probability in spring and fall, New Braunfels, TXChance of a 32°F frost in New Braunfels, TX, NOAA 1991–2020. Spring: the chance of another frost falls from 90% on Feb 17 to 10% on Apr 1. Fall: the chance that the first frost has arrived rises from 10% on Nov 2 to 90% on Dec 10.0%50%100%Spring: later frostFeb 1Mar 1Apr 130%: Mar 18Fall: frost arrivedNov 1Dec 1Jan 130%: Nov 1032°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 USC00416276.
Frost-free growing season in New Braunfels, TX1 in 10 risk: Apr 1 to Nov 2 (215 days); 3 in 10 risk: Mar 18 to Nov 10 (237 days); Median (50%): Mar 8 to Nov 18 (255 days); No 28°F freeze: Feb 24 to Dec 2 (281 days). In 9 of 10 years the 32°F-free season is at least 223 days.Frost-free days, spring to fallJFMAMJJASOND1 in 10 risk215 days3 in 10 risk237 daysMedian (50%)255 daysNo 28°F freeze281 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 New Braunfels

All 3 ZIP codes covering New Braunfels are in zone 9a.

ZIP codes in New Braunfels and their zones
ZIPZoneShare of city land
781309a79.0%
781329a20.0%
781249a1.0%

Vegetable planting calendar for New Braunfels

Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 18, first frost Nov 10). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.

CropStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop sow/plant
TomatoJan 21 – Feb 4Mar 25 – Apr 8——
PepperJan 7 – Jan 21Apr 1 – Apr 15——
LettuceFeb 4 – Feb 18Mar 4 – Mar 25Feb 18 – Apr 1Sep 1 – Sep 29
Green Beans——Mar 25 – Apr 29Aug 18 – Sep 1
Sweet Corn——Mar 25 – Apr 22—
Zucchini & Summer SquashFeb 18 – Feb 25Mar 25 – Apr 8Mar 25 – Apr 15Aug 18 – Sep 1
CucumberFeb 18 – Feb 25Apr 1 – Apr 8Mar 25 – Apr 15Aug 18 – Sep 1
Carrot——Feb 25 – Apr 1Aug 18 – Sep 1
OnionDec 24 – Jan 7Feb 18 – Mar 4——
Potato—Feb 18 – Mar 11——
BasilFeb 4 – Feb 18Apr 1 – Apr 15Apr 1 – Apr 22—
Spinach——Feb 4 – Mar 4Sep 15 – Oct 13
KaleJan 21 – Feb 4Feb 18 – Mar 11Feb 18 – Mar 11Sep 1 – Sep 29
BroccoliJan 21 – Feb 4Mar 4 – Mar 25—Aug 18 – Sep 1
Peas——Feb 4 – Feb 25Sep 1 – Sep 15
EggplantJan 7 – Jan 21Apr 1 – Apr 15——
CabbageJan 21 – Feb 4Feb 18 – Mar 4—Aug 18 – Sep 1
Radish——Feb 11 – Apr 1Sep 29 – Oct 27
Strawberry—Feb 18 – Mar 11——
Beets——Feb 25 – Apr 8Sep 1 – Sep 15

Nearby cities in Texas

More: all Texas cities · other zone 9a cities: San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, Portland, OR, Tucson, AZ, Baton Rouge, LA, Tallahassee, FL

New Braunfels gardening questions

When is the last frost in New Braunfels, TX?

Plan around Mar 18. At NOAA's NEW Braunfels, TX station, 4.0 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 8, and after Apr 1 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Feb 24. The 90% and 10% dates are 43 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.

When should I plant tomatoes in New Braunfels, TX?

Start seeds indoors Jan 21 – Feb 4 and set transplants outside Mar 25 – Apr 8, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 237 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 New Braunfels?

About 253 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 223 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 287 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 2 and a 30% chance by Nov 10. That ranks 40th longest of 55 Texas cities on this site.

When should I plant a fall garden in New Braunfels?

Count back from the first fall frost (Nov 10): transplant broccoli Aug 18 – Sep 1; sow kale Sep 1 – Sep 29; sow lettuce Sep 1 – Sep 29; sow radishes Sep 29 – Oct 27. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Dec 2. How the math works: succession and fall planting.

Did New Braunfels's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?

Yes. Most of New Braunfels was zone 8b on the 2012 map and is zone 9a 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 New Braunfels compare with San Antonio, TX?

Both are in zone 9a. The typical last spring frost in New Braunfels (Mar 18) comes about 13 days later than in San Antonio, TX (Mar 5), 30 miles away, and the first fall frost is Nov 10 versus Nov 18. The two cities use different NOAA stations.