Frost dates for ZIP 79601 (Abilene, 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, Abilene 6ESE, TX (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)218 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
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 63°F, as of Oct 17, 11:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Burnt Branch (36 mi), Bronte 11 NNE (51 mi), Winton Milliff Runnells (55 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 Burnt Branch (36 mi), Bronte 11 NNE (51 mi), Winton Milliff Runnells (55 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 79601 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 17 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 5: 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 10 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 19 |
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 5 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 22 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 12 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 1 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 15 | Nov 16 |
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 79601
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 5). 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 4–18 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 4–18 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 4–18 | Mar 11–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 4–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 7–21 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 4–11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 4–11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 4–11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 4–11 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 4–11 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 7–21 | Apr 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (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 1 here (the average last frost). More on plants for Texas. Not affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Abilene 6ESE, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00410013), elevation 1,802 ft, 9.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Rgnl AP, TX | 11 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| Anson, TX | 20 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 6 |
| Albany, TX | 22 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 12 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 79601
When is the last frost in 79601?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 79601 is April 1. For a more cautious planting date, use April 19, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 79601?
The average first fall freeze is November 5. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 21.
What hardiness zone is 79601?
ZIP 79601 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 79601 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
79699 Abilene 79525 Hawley 79605 Abilene 79607 Abilene 79602 Abilene 79606 Abilene 79501 Anson 79563 Tye
Other ZIP codes in Jones County
79501 79503 79520 79525 79553 All Jones County frost dates · Texas frost dates
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