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When to plant in Harker Heights, TX

USDA Zone 8b

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Harker Heights, Texas — all computed from Harker Heights's nearest NOAA weather station.

With about 248 frost-free days, Harker Heights supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Harker Heights, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.

Station · KILLEEN · 4.7 km
Last spring frost
March 14
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 17
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
248 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for Harker HeightsA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Harker Heights: last spring frost around March 14, first fall frost around November 17, about 248 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

KILLEEN · 1991–2020

The 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 Harker Heights’s own odds, recorded at KILLEEN.

Frost-probability curves for Harker HeightsProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around March 14 and the first fall frost around November 17, giving about 248 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FApr 19Mar 31Mar 7Oct 24Nov 7Nov 26
32°FApr 4Mar 14Feb 24Nov 1Nov 17Dec 6
28°FMar 22Mar 2Feb 5Nov 8Nov 30Dec 22

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowin 9 days
Brussels Sprouts
July 28August 11
Fall sowin 23 days
Rutabaga
August 11August 25

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Harker Heights, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 40 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

KILLEEN
Primary
5 km · 248 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 14
FALL
Nov 17
STILLHOUSE HOLLOW DAM
11 km · 215 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 14
FALL
Nov 20
GATESVILLE
40 km · 252 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 19
FALL
Nov 9

Harker Heights planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Harker Heights, TX?

On average, the last spring frost in Harker Heights is around March 14 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Harker Heights, TX?

In Harker Heights, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 17 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.

What hardiness zone is Harker Heights in?

Harker Heights is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Harker Heights?

There are roughly 248 frost-free days in Harker Heights (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 14 to the first fall frost near November 17.

When should I plant tomatoes in Harker Heights?

In Harker Heights, start tomato seeds indoors around January 17–January 31, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 21 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Harker Heights

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Harker Heights’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at KILLEEN, 5 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Harker Heights, TX — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00414792. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/texas/harker-heights.