US Grow Zones

Leander, Texas: planting zone & frost dates

Last updated · Sources: PRISM/OSU 2023 ZIP zone listings; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (station USC00413507); U.S. Census Bureau — see methodology

Leander is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 15 and the first fall frost around Nov 16.

Hardiness zone9A20 to 25°F
Last spring frostMar 1530% chance of frost after
First fall frostNov 1630% chance of frost before
Growing season259 daysmedian frost-free days

Frost dates

ProbabilityLast spring frost (32°F)First fall frost (32°F)
Safer (10% risk)Mar 30Nov 5
Typical planning date (30% risk)Mar 15Nov 16
Median (50%)Mar 6Nov 24

How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.

Frost data comes from NOAA station GEORGETOWN LAKE, TX (USC00413507), 10.9 mi (17.6 km) from the city center and 135 ft lower than the city center (-41 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 23 years.

Frost probability in spring and fall, Leander, TXChance of a 32°F frost in Leander, TX, NOAA 1991–2020. Spring: the chance of another frost falls from 90% on Feb 13 to 10% on Mar 30. Fall: the chance that the first frost has arrived rises from 10% on Nov 5 to 90% on Dec 10.0%50%100%Spring: later frostFeb 1Mar 1Apr 130%: Mar 15Fall: frost arrivedNov 1Dec 1Jan 130%: Nov 1632°F frost28°F hard freezeplanning date
Shaded areas show the chance of a 32°F frost: falling through spring, rising through fall. The dashed line is the 28°F hard-freeze curve. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 Normals, station USC00413507.
Frost-free growing season in Leander, TX1 in 10 risk: Mar 30 to Nov 5 (220 days); 3 in 10 risk: Mar 15 to Nov 16 (246 days); Median (50%): Mar 6 to Nov 24 (263 days); No 28°F freeze: Feb 23 to Dec 5 (285 days). In 9 of 10 years the 32°F-free season is at least 231 days.Frost-free days, spring to fallJFMAMJJASOND1 in 10 risk220 days3 in 10 risk246 daysMedian (50%)263 daysNo 28°F freeze285 days
Frost-free window at three risk levels, plus the window between 28°F hard freezes. Read about what the probabilities mean.

Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.

Hardiness zone across Leander

All 2 ZIP codes covering Leander are in zone 9a.

ZIP codes in Leander and their zones
ZIPZoneShare of city land
786419a97.0%
786289a3.0%

Vegetable planting calendar for Leander

Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 15, first frost Nov 16). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.

CropStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop sow/plant
TomatoJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 22 – Apr 5——
PepperJan 4 – Jan 18Mar 29 – Apr 12——
LettuceFeb 1 – Feb 15Mar 1 – Mar 22Feb 15 – Mar 29Sep 7 – Oct 5
Green Beans——Mar 22 – Apr 26Aug 24 – Sep 7
Sweet Corn——Mar 22 – Apr 19—
Zucchini & Summer SquashFeb 15 – Feb 22Mar 22 – Apr 5Mar 22 – Apr 12Aug 24 – Sep 7
CucumberFeb 15 – Feb 22Mar 29 – Apr 5Mar 22 – Apr 12Aug 24 – Sep 7
Carrot——Feb 22 – Mar 29Aug 24 – Sep 7
OnionDec 21 – Jan 4Feb 15 – Mar 1——
Potato—Feb 15 – Mar 8——
BasilFeb 1 – Feb 15Mar 29 – Apr 12Mar 29 – Apr 19—
Spinach——Feb 1 – Mar 1Sep 21 – Oct 19
KaleJan 18 – Feb 1Feb 15 – Mar 8Feb 15 – Mar 8Sep 7 – Oct 5
BroccoliJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Mar 22—Aug 24 – Sep 7
Peas——Feb 1 – Feb 22Sep 7 – Sep 21
EggplantJan 4 – Jan 18Mar 29 – Apr 12——
CabbageJan 18 – Feb 1Feb 15 – Mar 1—Aug 24 – Sep 7
Radish——Feb 8 – Mar 29Oct 5 – Nov 2
Strawberry—Feb 15 – Mar 8——
Beets——Feb 22 – Apr 5Sep 7 – Sep 21

Nearby cities in Texas

More: all Texas cities · other zone 9a cities: San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, Portland, OR, Tucson, AZ, Baton Rouge, LA, Tallahassee, FL

Leander gardening questions

When is the last frost in Leander, TX?

Plan around Mar 15. At NOAA's Georgetown Lake, TX station, 10.9 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Mar 6, and after Mar 30 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Feb 23. The 90% and 10% dates are 45 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.

When should I plant tomatoes in Leander, TX?

Start seeds indoors Jan 18 – Feb 1 and set transplants outside Mar 22 – Apr 5, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 246 days between the 30% frost dates, enough for most varieties including 80–85-day slicers. More: tomato planting dates by zone.

How long is the growing season in Leander?

About 259 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 231 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 289 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 5 and a 30% chance by Nov 16. That ranks 32nd longest of 55 Texas cities on this site.

When should I plant a fall garden in Leander?

Count back from the first fall frost (Nov 16): transplant broccoli Aug 24 – Sep 7; sow kale Sep 7 – Oct 5; sow lettuce Sep 7 – Oct 5; sow radishes Oct 5 – Nov 2. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Dec 5. How the math works: succession and fall planting.

Did Leander's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?

Yes. Most of Leander was zone 8b on the 2012 map and is zone 9a on the 2023 map — half a zone warmer, like about 56% of U.S. ZIP codes. The shift comes from a newer 1991–2020 averaging period plus more weather stations and better mapping; it does not mean last frost comes earlier. Why the 2023 map is warmer.

How does Leander compare with Cedar Park, TX?

Both are in zone 9a. The typical last spring frost in Leander (Mar 15) comes about 4 days earlier than in Cedar Park, TX (Mar 19), 5 miles away, and the first fall frost is Nov 16 versus Nov 13. The two cities use different NOAA stations.