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When to plant in Mission, TX

USDA Zone 10a

Everything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Mission, Texas — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.

With only about -6 frost-free days, Mission has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. Zone 10a is warm enough that Mission can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.

Station · MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP · 7.5 km
Last spring frost
January 9
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
January 3
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
-6 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for MissionA year-band from January to December for Mission: Mission is effectively frost-free at 32°F — no distinct frost season.
Mission is effectively frost-free at 32°F — no distinct frost season.

Frost probability

MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP · 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 Mission’s own odds, recorded at MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP.

Frost-probability curves for MissionProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around January 9 and the first fall frost around January 3, where a 32°F freeze is rare enough that there is effectively no distinct frost season.
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°FFeb 22Jan 19Dec 17Nov 30Dec 29Feb 5
32°FFeb 13Jan 9Dec 17Dec 11Jan 3Feb 9

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

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19

Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.

Add the next planting windows to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

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

Nearby weather stations

3 within 13 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.

MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP
Primary
7 km · 31 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 9
FALL
Jan 3
MCALLEN
8 km · 31 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 9
FALL
Jan 1
LA JOYA
13 km · 65 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 23
FALL
Dec 28

Mission planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Mission, TX?

On average, the last spring frost in Mission is around January 9 (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 Mission, TX?

The first fall frost in Mission typically arrives around January 3 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Mission in?

Mission is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Mission?

There are roughly -6 frost-free days in Mission (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 9 to the first fall frost near January 3.

When should I plant tomatoes in Mission?

In Mission, start tomato seeds indoors around November 14–November 28, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 16 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Mission

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at MCALLEN MILLER INTL AP, 7 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 Mission, TX — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00012959. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/texas/mission.