Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 77521 (Baytown, 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, Baytown, TX (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)292 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
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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
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 70°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Beaumont (44 mi).
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Beaumont (44 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 77521 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
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: Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- St. Augustinegrass (warm-season): Spring: About 2–3 weeks after full green-up (May in the Carolinas; earlier in Florida and south Texas) (about Mar 31 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Light feedings June–August where local rules allow; Last: No later than about mid-September in the Carolinas, about 6–8 weeks before first frost elsewhere. Avoid: Feeding before green-up or late in fall (feeds weeds and favors large patch and cold injury).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 25–Oct 23
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 9–30
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 9–30
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 25–Oct 23
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 4: 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) | Jan 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 14 |
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 12 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 4 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 4 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 6 | Nov 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 20 | Dec 4 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 30 | Dec 28 |
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 77521
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 20) and first fall frost (Dec 4). 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 | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 12–26 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 12–26 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Jan 30–Feb 20 (transplant) Jan 23–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–30 (transplant) Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–30 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (transplant) Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Jan 23–Feb 20 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (transplant) Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 12–26 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 12–26 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 12–26 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 9–23 | Feb 6–27 (transplant) Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 16–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 30–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 26–Jan 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 9–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 23–Nov 20 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | Oct 23–Nov 20 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Aug 14–28 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 23–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 23–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 23–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 23–30 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 23–30 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Feb 27–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 9–23 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 12–26 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (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 February 20 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Baytown, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00410586), elevation 26 ft, 7.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-port, TX | 20 mi | Feb 2 | Dec 25 |
| Anahuac, TX | 20 mi | Feb 12 | Dec 6 |
| Liberty, TX | 20 mi | Feb 21 | Dec 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 19 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 77521
When is the last frost in 77521?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 77521 is February 20. For a more cautious planting date, use March 14, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 77521?
The average first fall freeze is December 4. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 12.
What hardiness zone is 77521?
ZIP 77521 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 77521 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
77562 Highlands 77520 Baytown 77580 Mont Belvieu 77523 Mont Belvieu 77530 Channelview 77532 Barrett 77571 La Porte 77049 Sheldon
Other ZIP codes in Harris County
77002 77003 77004 77005 77006 77007 77008 77009 77010 77011 77012 77013 77014 77015 77016 77017 77018 77019 77020 77021 77022 77023 77024 77025 All Harris County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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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.