Frost dates for ZIP 78413 (Corpus Christi, 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, C C Botanical Gardens, TX (2 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 80% of years (about 3 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostJan 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)337 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone10a30 to 35°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
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 76°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically October to early November).
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 9 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 Oct 15–Nov 12
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 15–Nov 12
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 29–Nov 19
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 19
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 26
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | Dec 15 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 29 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 1 |
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) | Dec 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 5 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 14 | Dec 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 29 | Dec 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 10 | Jan 1 (next year) |
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 78413
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 29) and first fall frost (Dec 24). 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 4–18 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 4–18 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 4–18 | Jan 8–29 (transplant) Jan 1–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 19 (transplant) Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 18–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 4–18 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) Jan 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 4–18 | Jan 1–29 (transplant) Jan 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 6–20 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 4–18 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) Jan 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 26 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 15–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 25–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–26 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 4–Jan 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 6–20 | Dec 18–Jan 1 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 18–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 6–20 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 12–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 18–Jan 1 (transplant) | Nov 12–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 3–17 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 1–8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 1–8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 1–8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 1–8 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 1–8 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 6–20 | Feb 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (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 January 29 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
This week in Corpus Christi
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 76°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Kingsville (31 mi), RB Farms Inc (32 mi), Sarita Station (40 mi).
4-inch depth
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 76°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Kingsville (31 mi), RB Farms Inc (32 mi), LaRosa Ranch Refugio (42 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 78413 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Where these numbers come from
Station: C C Botanical Gardens, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00412013), elevation 16 ft, 1.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi Cabaniss Fld, TX | 2 mi | Jan 15 | Dec 30 |
| Corpus Christi NAS, TX | 8 mi | Jan 14 | Jan 8 (next year) |
| Corpus Christi NWS, TX | 9 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 78413
When is the last frost in 78413?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78413 is January 29. For a more cautious planting date, use March 1, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 78413?
The average first fall freeze is December 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 1.
What hardiness zone is 78413?
ZIP 78413 is in USDA zone 10a (30 to 35°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 78413 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
78414 Corpus Christi 78411 Corpus Christi 78412 Corpus Christi 78416 Corpus Christi 78417 Corpus Christi 78404 Corpus Christi 78415 Corpus Christi 78405 Corpus Christi
Other ZIP codes in Nueces County
78330 78339 78343 78347 78351 78373 78380 78401 78402 78404 78405 78406 78407 78408 78409 78410 78411 78412 78414 78415 78416 78417 78419 All Nueces County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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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.