Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 76701 (Waco, TX)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Waco Dam, TX (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)256 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Riesel (16 mi), City of Troy (25 mi), Aquilla Water Supply District (26 mi).
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 71°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Riesel (16 mi), City of Troy (25 mi), Aquilla Water Supply District (26 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 76701 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 72°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: South Central plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Apr 24 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 25–Oct 23
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 20: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 4 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 9 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 24 | Nov 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 9 | Nov 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 25 | Dec 3 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 76701
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 9) and first fall frost (Nov 20). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 12–26 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 12–26 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 12–26 | Feb 16–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 9–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 26–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) Feb 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 15–29 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) Feb 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 16 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 2–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 12–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 15–29 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 15–29 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 30–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 9–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 9–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 9–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 9–16 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 9–16 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 15–29 | Mar 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Texas A&M AgriLife trials name plants that handle Texas conditions: the Texas Superstar® list and the low-care roses from AgriLife trials. Plant frost-tender annuals after March 9 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Waco Dam, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00419417), elevation 495 ft, 5.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco Rgnl AP, TX | 7 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 15 |
| Mcgregor, TX | 17 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 18 |
| Marlin, TX | 23 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 9 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 12 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 76701
When is the last frost in 76701?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 76701 is March 9. For a more cautious planting date, use April 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 76701?
The average first fall freeze is November 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 76701?
ZIP 76701 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 76701 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
76798 Waco 76707 Waco 76704 Waco 76711 Waco 76710 Waco 76705 Waco 76708 Waco 76706 Robinson
Other ZIP codes in McLennan County
76624 76630 76633 76638 76640 76643 76654 76655 76657 76691 76704 76705 76706 76707 76708 76710 76711 76712 76798 All McLennan County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.