Frost dates for ZIP 76251 (Montague, 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, Bonita 7NW, TX (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)229 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°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
66°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Filter Plant Nocona, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 75°, Fri 69°.
4-inch depth
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Filter Plant Nocona, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 77°, Fri 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 76251 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 68°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 9 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 8: 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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 24 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 13 |
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 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 27 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 4 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 24 | Nov 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 11 | 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 76251
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 24) and first fall frost (Nov 8). 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 27–Feb 10 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 13–27 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 13–27 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 3–24 (transplant) Feb 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 24 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 13–27 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 13–27 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 10–24 | Mar 10–31 (transplant) Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 17–Mar 31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 24–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 24–Mar 3 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 10–24 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 31–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 10–24 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (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 24 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Bonita 7NW, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00410926), elevation 980 ft, 11.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowie, TX | 12 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 9 |
| Alvord 3 N, TX | 19 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
| Burneyville 2SE Mesont, OK | 29 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 76251
When is the last frost in 76251?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 76251 is March 24. For a more cautious planting date, use April 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 76251?
The average first fall freeze is November 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 25.
What hardiness zone is 76251?
ZIP 76251 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 76251 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
76265 St. Jo 76255 Nocona Hills 76239 76270 Sunset 76230 Bowie 76252 Muenster 76263 76261 Ringgold
Other ZIP codes in Montague County
76230 76239 76255 76261 76265 76270 All Montague County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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