Frost dates for ZIP 78039 (LaCoste, 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, Lytle 3W, TX (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)283 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 70°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of EAA Field Research Park (36 mi), Phyllis Thomas Bandera (41 mi), Strey Ranch (46 mi).
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of EAA Field Research Park (36 mi), Phyllis Thomas Bandera (41 mi), Strey Ranch (46 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 78039 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: 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 11 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 sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 7–28
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 7–28
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 2: 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 24 |
| 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 14 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 2 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 30 |
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 21 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 24 | Dec 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 4 | Dec 18 |
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 78039
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 24) and first fall frost (Dec 2). 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 30–Jan 13 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 16–30 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 16–30 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 3–24 (transplant) Jan 27–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–28 (transplant) Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 13–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–28 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Jan 27–Feb 24 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 16–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 16–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 16–30 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 2–16 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 27–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 20–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 27–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 30–Jan 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 2–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 2–16 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 21–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Oct 21–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Aug 12–26 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 27–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 27–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 27–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 27–Feb 3 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 27–Feb 3 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 13–27 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 2–16 | Mar 3–10 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 13–27 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 16–30 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) Feb 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (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 24 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Lytle 3W, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00415454), elevation 722 ft, 5.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio/seaworld, TX | 12 mi | Feb 18 | Dec 9 |
| San Antonio Kelly AFB, TX | 16 mi | Feb 22 | Dec 2 |
| Hondo, TX | 18 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78039
When is the last frost in 78039?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78039 is February 24. 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 78039?
The average first fall freeze is December 2. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 14.
What hardiness zone is 78039?
ZIP 78039 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 78039 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
78009 Castroville 78002 Macdona 78052 Lytle 78245 San Antonio 78059 Natalia 78252 San Antonio 78253 78016 Devine
Other ZIP codes in Medina County
78009 78016 78056 78059 78066 78850 78861 78886 All Medina County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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