Frost dates for ZIP 76853 (Lometa, 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, Lampasas, TX (17 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)238 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 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Big Dog Ranch, 4 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 75°, Fri 69°.
4-inch depth
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Big Dog Ranch, 4 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 75°, Fri 72°.
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 76853 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 67°F at 4 inches. 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 May 7 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 12: 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) | Mar 2 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 22 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 10 |
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) | Oct 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 12 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 2 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 3 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 22 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 6 | Nov 26 |
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 76853
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 22) and first fall frost (Nov 12). 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 25–Feb 8 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 11–25 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 11–25 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 1–22 (transplant) Feb 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (transplant) Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 22 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 11–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 11–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 11–25 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 8–22 | Mar 8–29 (transplant) Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 15–Mar 29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 12–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 29–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 8–22 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 11–25 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (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 22 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Lampasas, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00415018), elevation 1,032 ft, 17.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldthwaite 1 WSW, TX | 18 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 11 |
| Evant 1SSW, TX | 18 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 18 |
| San Saba 7NW, TX | 23 mi | Mar 16 | Nov 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 76853
When is the last frost in 76853?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 76853 is March 22. For a more cautious planting date, use April 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 76853?
The average first fall freeze is November 12. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 76853?
ZIP 76853 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 76853 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
76880 76550 Lampasas 76844 Goldthwaite 76525 Evant 76824 76522 Copperas Cove 76877 San Saba 76870
Other ZIP codes in Lampasas County
76539 76550 All Lampasas County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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