When to plant in Austin, TX
USDA Zone 9aAustin, Texas frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With about 286 frost-free days, Austin supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Zone 9a is warm enough that Austin can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Austin’s own odds, recorded at AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 27 | Mar 6 | Feb 14 | Nov 5 | Nov 22 | Dec 10 |
| 32°F | Mar 14 | Feb 20 | Jan 23 | Nov 15 | Dec 3 | Jan 1 |
| 28°F | Mar 3 | Feb 1 | Dec 29 | Nov 27 | Dec 27 | Feb 1 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Austin, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Austin planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Austin, TX?
Plan for the last spring frost in Austin around February 20 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Austin, TX?
In Austin, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 3 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Austin in?
Austin is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Austin?
There are roughly 286 frost-free days in Austin (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 20 to the first fall frost near December 3.
When should I plant tomatoes in Austin?
In Austin, start tomato seeds indoors around December 26–January 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 27 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Austin
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Austin’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Steiner Ranch · 15 km
- Hornsby Bend · 17 km
- Wells Branch · 18 km
- Manor · 20 km
- Pflugerville · 22 km
- Lakeway · 23 km
- Brushy Creek · 24 km
- Cedar Park · 24 km
Frost dates recorded at AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY, 3 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Austin, TX — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013958. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/texas/austin.