Frost dates for ZIP 77871 (Hilltop Lakes, 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, Madisonville, TX (14 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)240 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
Pre-emergent
Soil is 74°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 May 1 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 11: 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 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 16 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 7 |
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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 11 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 31 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 16 | Nov 11 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 2 | Nov 20 |
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 77871
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 16) and first fall frost (Nov 11). 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 19–Feb 2 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 5–19 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 5–19 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 23–Mar 16 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (transplant) Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 16 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 5–19 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 5–19 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–23 (transplant) Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 9–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 19–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 16–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 16–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 16–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 16–23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 16–23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Mar 23–30 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 2–16 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (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 16 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
This week in Hilltop Lakes
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Riesel (54 mi), Palestine 6 WNW (55 mi), Goetsch Ranch (61 mi).
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Riesel (54 mi), Palestine 6 WNW (55 mi), Goetsch Ranch (61 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 77871 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Madisonville, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00415477), elevation 252 ft, 13.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centerville, TX | 16 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 12 |
| Franklin, TX | 22 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 28 |
| College STN, TX | 36 mi | Feb 27 | Nov 30 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 24 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 77871
When is the last frost in 77871?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 77871 is March 16. For a more cautious planting date, use April 7, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 77871?
The average first fall freeze is November 11. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 25.
What hardiness zone is 77871?
ZIP 77871 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 77871 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
77855 75850 Leona 77872 77865 Marquez 77864 Madisonville 77856 Franklin 77882 75846 Jewett
Other ZIP codes in Leon County
75831 75833 75846 75850 75855 77855 77865 All Leon County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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