Dallas, Texas Frost Dates, Growing Season & Hardiness Zone

When is the last frost in Dallas?

In half of years, the last 32°F night has passed by Mar 2. In 1 year out of 10, one still comes after Mar 19. The last 36°F night (frost possible on plants) typically comes later, around Mar 14, and the last 28°F hard freeze earlier, around Feb 18.

In Dallas, late frosts can come well after the typical date. The safer 1-in-10 date (Mar 19) is 17 days after the typical date (Mar 2). Tender plants set out early will need cover on cold nights.

Cold nights don't end with the last freeze. The typical last 36°F night (frost possible on plants in low spots) comes around Mar 14, 12 days after the typical last 32°F night. On clear, calm nights, frost can form on leaves while the thermometer still reads above freezing.

Of the 10 eligible stations near Dallas, ours has the earliest typical last frost. In a colder pocket, plan closer to Mar 19.

Is it too early to plant in Dallas?

Before Mar 2 the odds of another 32°F night are better than even; after Mar 19 they are about 1 in 10 or less.

Today's risk is computed in your browser from the same NOAA probability table, shown as the range between the two nearest NOAA probability levels.

When is the first frost in Dallas?

The typical first fall freeze (32°F) comes by Nov 29, but 1 year in 10 it shows up as early as Nov 10. Cold 36°F nights (frost possible on plants) typically start around Nov 16, and the first hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around Dec 12.

For fall crops, count back from Nov 29, or from Nov 10 to be safe. Our planting calendar does the math for each crop.

How long is Dallas's growing season?

A typical year in Dallas has 272 days between the last spring and first fall 32°F nights. In about 1 year in 10, there are fewer than 246 days.

With a season this long, you can grow many crops twice: once in spring and again for fall.

Growing degree days measure the heat available for crops to grow. The station averages 7,038 a year (base 50°F).

How does Dallas's season compare?

Among the 6 Texas cities with frost dates on this site, the typical frost-free season in Dallas (272 days) is the 4th longest.

Nationwide, across the 56 cities with frost dates on this site, the typical frost-free season here outlasts the one in 43 of them and falls short of the one in 12.

Growing degree days (base 50°F)

Annual normal: 7,038 GDD (NOAA flag S, 28 years). Running total by the end of each month (sum of NOAA daily GDD normals, so the year-end total can differ slightly from the annual normal):

What growing zone is Dallas? (USDA 2023)

The 2023 USDA map puts Dallas in zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night). On the 2012 map, most of the city was 8a. Comparing ZIPs listed in both tables, 39 of 49 moved up half a zone.

Zones: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 2026-10-08. Shown as published in the ZIP tables; this page does not show a zone map. Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov).

Does the new zone change Dallas's frost dates?

No. Hardiness zones are based only on the average coldest winter temperature. They say nothing about when spring and fall frosts happen. Dallas's frost dates come from NOAA's 1991–2020 frost probabilities, which did not change with the 2023 zone map. Use your zone to pick perennials that will survive winter, and your frost dates to time planting.

Why do Dallas frost dates differ between websites?

Some sources list Mar 9 for Dallas. That's the 30%-risk date: about 3 years in 10 still see a 32°F night after it. We headline the 50% (median) date, Mar 2.

The 'safer' date, Mar 19, is the 10%-risk date. A 32°F night after it happens in only about 1 year in 10.

Mar 14 is the 50% date for a 36°F night (frost possible on plants), not a 32°F freeze. Sites that treat 36°F as the danger line show later dates.

The choice of weather station matters too. The 10 stations within 25 miles of the city center that pass our quality rules give typical (50%) last 32°F frost dates from Mar 2 to Mar 20; see the table below.

Which weather station is this based on?

Station

Dallas Love Field (NOAA USW00013960, WBAN/ASOS-AWOS)

Distance

6.6 mi NW of the city center

Elevation

440 ft; city center 483 ft (USGS), difference −43 ft

Record

NOAA completeness flag S, 29 of 30 years (1991–2020)

Confidence

High (rule)

Confidence: High. The station is 6.6 miles from the city center, only 43 ft different in elevation, and its frost statistics meet our completeness rule (NOAA flag S, 29 of 30 years).

Dallas planting dates at a glance

Balanced dates use the 30%-risk last-frost date as the anchor. The Dallas planting calendar has typical and safe dates, fall planting and a month-by-month list for 26 vegetables.

When to plant tomatoes in Dallas · Fall planting dates for Dallas

Frost dates near Dallas

All Texas cities

Frequently asked questions

What is the average last frost date in Dallas?

Mar 2 is the median (50%) date for Dallas's last 32°F night, from NOAA 1991–2020 normals at Dallas Love Field. To play it safe, use Mar 19: only about 1 year in 10 has a freeze after it.

When is the first frost in Dallas?

Expect the first 32°F night by Nov 29 in a typical year, and as early as Nov 10 in about 1 year out of 10. Cold 36°F nights (frost possible on plants) typically start around Nov 16.

What growing zone is Dallas, Texas?

Zone 8b, on the current 2023 USDA map. Most of Dallas was 8a on the older 2012 map, and you may still see that in older references.

Is it too early to plant in Dallas?

Before Mar 2, yes, for anything frost-tender. Until then, the odds of another 32°F night are better than even. The risk falls from 50% to 10% between Mar 2 and Mar 19. Peas, lettuce and other cool-season crops can go in weeks earlier; the planting calendar has dates.

What temperature is a killing frost?

It depends on the crop. Tender plants such as tomatoes are killed by a light frost, which CSU Extension describes as 28–32°F; below 28°F is a heavy frost. We show NOAA odds for 36°F (frost possible on plants), 32°F (freeze, our headline) and 28°F (hard freeze).

Is first frost the same as first freeze?

Not exactly. A freeze is about the air reaching 32°F. Frost is ice on surfaces, which can form on calm, clear nights while the air is still a few degrees above freezing. So in Dallas, the first 36°F night (frost possible on plants) typically comes around Nov 16, ahead of the first 32°F night (Nov 29).

Download & sources

• Add Dallas frost & planting dates to your calendar (.ics, 2027)
• Printable planting calendar (PDF)
• How these numbers are calculated

Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal and daily normals, station USW00013960); USDA Plant Hardiness Zone ZIP tables 2023 and 2012 by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; Census 2020 ZIP/place relationship file; USGS elevation. Long-term odds, not a forecast. Figures and sentences are generated from these data by fixed rules; see the methodology. Last updated 2026-10-08.