Frost dates for ZIP 79353 (Hockley County, 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, Morton, TX (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)199 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 79353
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 79353, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
56°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 56°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Lehman, 14 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 66°, Fri 58°.
4-inch depth
57°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 61°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Lehman, 14 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 68°, Fri 60°.
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 79353 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 57°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 27 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 Oct 31: 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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 26 |
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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 31 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 11 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 21 | Oct 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 11 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 31 | Nov 7 |
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 79353
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 31). 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 | Feb 14–28 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 14–28 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 14–28 | Mar 21–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 14–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (transplant) Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 14–28 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 14–28 | Mar 14–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 17–31 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 14–28 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 18 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 7–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 17–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 17–31 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 14–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 14–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 14–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 14–21 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 14–21 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 17–31 | Apr 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (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 April 11 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Morton, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00416074), elevation 3,766 ft, 10.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muleshoe 19 S, TX | 16 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 21 |
| Muleshoe Ntl Wr, TX | 16 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 19 |
| Littlefield, TX | 20 mi | Apr 14 | Oct 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 79353
When is the last frost in 79353?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 79353 is April 11. For a more cautious planting date, use April 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 79353?
The average first fall freeze is October 31. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 16.
What hardiness zone is 79353?
ZIP 79353 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 79353 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
79324 79371 Sudan 79339 Littlefield 79380 Whitharral 79346 Morton 79336 Levelland 79379 Whiteface 79312 Amherst
Other ZIP codes in Hockley County
79313 79336 79358 79367 79372 79380 79407 All Hockley 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.
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.