Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 78159 (Smiley, 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, Nixon, TX (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)260 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 78159 (Smiley)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 78159, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- 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.
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
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Pennell Cattle Co, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 78°, Fri 74°, Sat 68°.
4-inch depth
71°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 70°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Pennell Cattle Co, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 79°, Fri 76°, Sat 71°.
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 78159 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 71°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 Apr 22 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
- Lettuce: fall transplant Sep 27–Oct 18
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 27–Oct 18
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 27–Oct 25
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 22: 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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 30 |
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 22 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 11 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 7 | Nov 22 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 20 | Dec 4 |
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 78159
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 7) and first fall frost (Nov 22). 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 10–24 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Aug 2–23 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Aug 2–23 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 10–24 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 10–24 | Feb 14–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 7–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 10–24 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 10–24 | Feb 7–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 13–27 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 2–23 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 10–24 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 31–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 13–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 13–27 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 2–16 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 7–14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 7–14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 7–14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 7–14 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 7–14 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 13–27 | Mar 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (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 7 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Nixon, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00416368), elevation 340 ft, 11.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapside, TX | 12 mi | Feb 21 | Dec 1 |
| Cuero, TX | 17 mi | Mar 2 | Nov 27 |
| Gonzales 2S, TX | 19 mi | Feb 26 | Nov 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78159
When is the last frost in 78159?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78159 is March 7. For a more cautious planting date, use March 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78159?
The average first fall freeze is November 22. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 78159?
ZIP 78159 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 78159 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
77994 78677 78140 Nixon 78614 78116 78111 78143 78164 Yorktown
Other ZIP codes in Gonzales County
78122 78140 78614 78629 78632 78658 78677 78959 All Gonzales County frost dates · Texas frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- 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.