Frost dates for ZIP 77563 (Hitchcock, 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, Galveston Scholes Fld, TX (11 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 48% of years (about 2 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostJan 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 7 (next year)50% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)year-round in a typical yearmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°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
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring late January to mid-February (south Florida: earlier; check local soil temps); fall October to early November.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- St. Augustinegrass (warm-season): Spring: About 2–3 weeks after full green-up (May in the Carolinas; earlier in Florida and south Texas) (about Feb 26 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Light feedings June–August where local rules allow; Last: No later than about mid-September in the Carolinas, about 6–8 weeks before first frost elsewhere. Avoid: Feeding before green-up or late in fall (feeds weeds and favors large patch and cold injury).
Plant now
- Kale: fall sowing Oct 1–29
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 15–Nov 12
- Collards: fall sowing Oct 1–29
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 15–Nov 12
- Broccoli: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Cabbage: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 15–29
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 26
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 26–Nov 9
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 26–Nov 9
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 26–Nov 9
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 26–Nov 9
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 29–Nov 26
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | Dec 21 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 18 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 18 |
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) | Dec 13 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 7 (next year) |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 7 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jan 30 | Dec 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 18 | Jan 7 (next year) |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 9 | Jan 8 (next year) |
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 77563
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 18) and first fall frost (Jan 7). 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 | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 9–23 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 9–23 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Dec 28–Jan 18 (transplant) Dec 21–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–Dec 3 (transplant) Oct 29–Nov 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–Dec 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) Dec 21–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (transplant) Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Dec 21–Jan 18 (transplant) Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (transplant) Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 9–23 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 9–23 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 9–23 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 26–Nov 9 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) Dec 21–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 21–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 21–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 7–21 | Jan 4–25 (transplant) Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 28–Jan 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 14–Jan 25 (sow outdoors) | Nov 26–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 21–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 28–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 23–Dec 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 26–Nov 9 | Dec 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 7–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 26–Nov 9 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 26–Dec 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 7–21 (transplant) | Nov 26–Dec 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 21–28 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 21–28 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 21–28 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 21–28 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 21–28 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 7–21 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 26–Nov 9 | Jan 25–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 7–21 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 9–23 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) Dec 28–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | Oct 29–Nov 26 (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 January 18 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
This week in Hitchcock
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 77563 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Galveston Scholes Fld, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00012923), elevation 5 ft, 10.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Nwso, TX | 12 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 14 |
| Alvin, TX | 13 mi | Feb 14 | Dec 5 |
| Galveston, TX | 14 mi | Jan 25 | Jan 1 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 27 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 77563
When is the last frost in 77563?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 77563 is January 18. For a more cautious planting date, use February 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 77563?
The average first fall freeze is January 7 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 13.
What hardiness zone is 77563?
ZIP 77563 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 77563 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
77510 Santa Fe 77568 La Marque 77591 Texas City 77517 Santa Fe 77554 Galveston 77590 Texas City 77539 Texas City 77551 Galveston
Other ZIP codes in Galveston County
77510 77517 77518 77539 77546 77550 77551 77554 77555 77565 77568 77573 77590 77591 77617 77623 77650 All Galveston County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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