Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Tomball, TX

The average first fall frost in Tomball, TX is December 3, and the average last spring frost is February 19, giving a growing season of about 290 days.

Plan your garden around Tomball, TX's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

February 19

Safe Mar 15 Typical Feb 19 Risky Jan 21

First Fall Frost

December 3

Safe Nov 13 Typical Dec 3 Risky Jan 5

Growing Season

290 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 9b

Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.

Data: NOAA station HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP, TX US, 6.6 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Tomball Compares

Tomball's typical last spring frost (Feb 19) comes earlier than in 67% of the 258 Texas cities we track.
Its 290-day growing season is 31 days longer than the Texas median of 259 days.
Tomball shares its NOAA weather station with The Woodlands (14 km away), so their typical frost dates are the same.
August is the warmest month (average high 95°F) and January the coldest (average low 43°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Dec 25 – Jan 8	—	Feb 26 – Mar 5	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Dec 11 – Dec 25	—	Feb 26 – Mar 12	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Dec 11 – Dec 25	—	Mar 5 – Mar 12	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Jan 22 – Jan 29	Feb 26 – Mar 5	Feb 26 – Mar 5	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Jan 29 – Feb 5	Feb 26 – Mar 12	Feb 26 – Mar 5	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Jan 22 – Jan 29	Feb 26 – Mar 12	Feb 26 – Mar 5	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Feb 26 – Mar 12	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Jan 22 – Jan 29	—	Mar 5 – Mar 12	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Jan 22 – Jan 29	—	Mar 5 – Mar 12	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Feb 19 – Mar 5	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Feb 19 – Mar 5	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Jan 8 – Jan 22	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Jan 22 – Feb 5	—	Oct 8 – Oct 22	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Jan 8 – Jan 22	—	Oct 8 – Oct 22	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Jan 22 – Feb 5	—	Sep 24 – Oct 8	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Jan 22 – Feb 5	—	Oct 22 – Oct 29	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Jan 29 – Feb 12	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Jan 1 – Jan 15	—	Jan 29 – Feb 5	Oct 1 – Oct 8	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Jan 1 – Jan 15	—	Feb 5 – Feb 12	Sep 24 – Oct 1	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Jan 1 – Jan 15	—	Jan 22 – Feb 5	Sep 24 – Oct 8	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Jan 1 – Jan 15	—	Jan 29 – Feb 12	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Jan 22 – Feb 5	—	Sep 10 – Sep 24	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Jan 22 – Feb 5	—	Sep 24 – Oct 8	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Jan 15 – Jan 29	—	Oct 22 – Nov 5	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Jan 22 – Feb 5	—	Sep 24 – Oct 8	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Dec 11 – Dec 25	—	Jan 22 – Feb 5	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Nov 5 – Nov 19	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Jan 22 – Feb 5	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	Mar 5 – Mar 19	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Jan 22 – Feb 5	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Jan 8 – Jan 15	—	Feb 26 – Mar 5	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Jan 29 – Feb 12	—	Oct 8 – Oct 22	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Dec 25 – Jan 8	—	Feb 5 – Feb 12	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Jan 29 – Feb 12	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Dec 25 – Jan 8	—	Feb 19 – Feb 26	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Dec 25 – Jan 8	—	Feb 19 – Feb 26	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Feb 26 – Mar 12	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Jan 22 – Jan 29	Feb 26 – Mar 12	Feb 26 – Mar 5	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Jan 8 – Jan 22	—	Feb 26 – Mar 5	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Jan 22 – Jan 29	Feb 26 – Mar 12	Feb 26 – Mar 5	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Feb 26 – Mar 12	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Feb 26 – Mar 12	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Tomball, TX?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the HOUSTON HOOKS MEM AP, TX US station, the last spring frost in Tomball typically falls around February 19. A cautious gardener might wait until March 15 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 21 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Tomball, TX in fall?

The first fall frost in Tomball typically arrives around December 3. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 13; in milder years it can hold off until January 5.

How long is the growing season in Tomball, TX?

Tomball's average frost-free growing season is about 290 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 19) to the typical first fall frost (December 3).

What USDA hardiness zone is Tomball, TX in?

Tomball, TX is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.