When to plant in Santa Fe, TX
USDA Zone 9bSanta Fe, Texas frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
A generous ~317-day season lets Santa Fe gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for Santa Fe — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Santa Fe is now 12 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
HOUSTON NWSO · 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 Santa Fe’s own odds, recorded at HOUSTON NWSO.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 17 | Feb 22 | Jan 21 | Nov 9 | Nov 29 | Dec 22 |
| 32°F | Mar 5 | Jan 31 | Dec 25 | Nov 19 | Dec 14 | Jan 19 |
| 28°F | Feb 24 | Jan 17 | Dec 19 | Dec 6 | Jan 3 | Feb 5 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.
Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Santa Fe, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 20 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.
Santa Fe planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Santa Fe, TX?
Santa Fe's average last spring frost falls near January 31 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Santa Fe, TX?
Expect Santa Fe's first fall frost near December 14 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Santa Fe in?
Santa Fe is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Santa Fe?
Santa Fe has about 317 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 31) and first fall frost (December 14).
When should I plant tomatoes in Santa Fe?
For Santa Fe, sow tomatoes indoors about December 6–December 20 and move the seedlings out around February 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Santa Fe
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Santa Fe’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Dickinson · 8 km
- La Marque · 11 km
- League City · 11 km
- Alvin · 13 km
- Webster · 16 km
- Friendswood · 16 km
- Texas City · 21 km
- Seabrook · 25 km
Frost dates recorded at HOUSTON NWSO, 10 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 Santa Fe, TX — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00414333. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/texas/santa-fe.