Frost dates for ZIP 76874 (Kimble 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, Junction 4SSW, TX (19 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)202 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
Pre-emergent
Soil is 67°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 24 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
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 28: 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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 27 |
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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 28 |
| 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 18 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 8 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 27 | Nov 5 |
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 76874
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Oct 28). 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 11–25 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 11–25 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 11–25 | Mar 18–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) Jul 22–Aug 19 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) Jul 22–Aug 19 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 8–29 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 4–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 8–22 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 11–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 11–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 14–28 | Apr 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (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 8 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
This week in 76874
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Coke Stevenson Ranch (20 mi), Sutton County Central (22 mi), Camp Eagle (36 mi).
4-inch depth
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Coke Stevenson Ranch (20 mi), Sutton County Central (22 mi), Camp Eagle (36 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 76874 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Junction 4SSW, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00414670), elevation 1,747 ft, 19.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junction Kimble Co AP, TX | 21 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 7 |
| Ft Mckavett, TX | 24 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 2 |
| Rocksprings, TX | 32 mi | Mar 8 | Nov 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 31 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 76874
When is the last frost in 76874?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 76874 is April 8. For a more cautious planting date, use April 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 76874?
The average first fall freeze is October 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 13.
What hardiness zone is 76874?
ZIP 76874 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 76874 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
76849 Junction 76841 76950 Sonora 76859 Menard 76854 78880 Rocksprings 78058 76848
Other ZIP codes in Kimble County
76849 76854 78631 All Kimble County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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