When to plant in Bay City, TX
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Bay City, Texas — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With about 286 frost-free days, Bay City supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for Bay City — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average first fall frost in Bay City is now 15 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BAY CITY WTR WKS · 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 Bay City’s own odds, recorded at BAY CITY WTR WKS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 1 | Mar 7 | Feb 11 | Nov 3 | Nov 20 | Dec 9 |
| 32°F | Mar 15 | Feb 20 | Jan 19 | Nov 10 | Dec 3 | Jan 1 |
| 28°F | Mar 5 | Jan 31 | Dec 27 | Nov 24 | Dec 22 | Jan 23 |
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 Bay City, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 33 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.
Bay City planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Bay City, TX?
Plan for the last spring frost in Bay City 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 Bay City, TX?
In Bay City, 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 Bay City in?
Bay City is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Bay City?
Bay City has about 286 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 20) and first fall frost (December 3).
When should I plant tomatoes in Bay City?
For Bay City, sow tomatoes indoors about December 26–January 9 and move the seedlings out around February 27, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Bay City
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bay City’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at BAY CITY WTR WKS, 2 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 Bay City, TX — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00410569. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/texas/bay-city.