When to plant in Waco, TX
USDA Zone 8bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Waco, Texas — all computed from Waco's nearest NOAA weather station.
Waco enjoys a long ~256-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Waco, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
WACO DAM · 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 Waco’s own odds, recorded at WACO DAM.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 13 | Mar 24 | Mar 2 | Oct 26 | Nov 10 | Nov 27 |
| 32°F | Apr 4 | Mar 9 | Feb 17 | Nov 2 | Nov 20 | Dec 9 |
| 28°F | Mar 21 | Feb 25 | Jan 27 | Nov 12 | Dec 3 | Jan 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 Waco, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Waco planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Waco, TX?
Plan for the last spring frost in Waco around March 9 (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 Waco, TX?
In Waco, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 20 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Waco in?
Waco is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Waco?
There are roughly 256 frost-free days in Waco (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 9 to the first fall frost near November 20.
When should I plant tomatoes in Waco?
In Waco, start tomato seeds indoors around January 12–January 26, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 16 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Waco
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Waco’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Bellmead · 11 km
- Hewitt · 12 km
- Robinson · 13 km
- Temple · 54 km
- Gatesville · 54 km
- Belton · 63 km
- Harker Heights · 71 km
- Killeen · 74 km
Frost dates recorded at WACO DAM, 5 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 Waco, TX — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00419417. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/texas/waco.