Frost dates for ZIP 79561 (Trent, 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, Merkel 12 SW, TX (14 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)215 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
61°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Bronte 11 NNE (33 mi), Paul Williams Runnells (46 mi), Roy Blair Coke (48 mi).
4-inch depth
66°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Bronte 11 NNE (33 mi), Paul Williams Runnells (46 mi), Roy Blair Coke (48 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 79561 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 66°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 18 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 3: 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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 2 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 20 |
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 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 3 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 18 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 14 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 2 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 20 | Nov 14 |
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 79561
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Nov 3). 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 5–19 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 5–19 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 5–19 | Mar 12–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–29 (transplant) Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–29 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) Jul 28–Aug 25 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) Jul 28–Aug 25 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Mar 19–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 22–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Sep 22–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 14–28 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 5–12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 5–12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 8–22 | Apr 9–16 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (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 2 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Merkel 12 SW, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00415852), elevation 2,249 ft, 13.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roscoe, TX | 21 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 8 |
| Anson, TX | 24 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 6 |
| Rotan, TX | 29 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 79561
When is the last frost in 79561?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 79561 is April 2. For a more cautious planting date, use April 20, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 79561?
The average first fall freeze is November 3. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 21.
What hardiness zone is 79561?
ZIP 79561 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 79561 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
79536 Merkel 79560 Sylvester 79556 Sweetwater 79537 79534 McCaulley 79563 Tye 79543 Roby 79603 Abilene
Other ZIP codes in Nolan County
79506 79535 79537 79545 79556 All Nolan County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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