US Grow Zones

Tyler, Texas: planting zone & frost dates

Last updated · Sources: PRISM/OSU 2023 ZIP zone listings; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (station USC00419207); U.S. Census Bureau — see methodology

Tyler is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 15 and the first fall frost around Nov 13.

Hardiness zone8B15 to 20°F
Last spring frostMar 1530% chance of frost after
First fall frostNov 1330% chance of frost before
Growing season257 daysmedian frost-free days

Frost dates

ProbabilityLast spring frost (32°F)First fall frost (32°F)
Safer (10% risk)Mar 27Nov 4
Typical planning date (30% risk)Mar 15Nov 13
Median (50%)Mar 7Nov 21

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 TYLER, TX (USC00419207), 0.9 mi (1.4 km) from the city center and 43 ft higher than the city center (+13 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 25 years.

Frost probability in spring and fall, Tyler, TXChance of a 32°F frost in Tyler, TX, NOAA 1991–2020. Spring: the chance of another frost falls from 90% on Feb 17 to 10% on Mar 27. Fall: the chance that the first frost has arrived rises from 10% on Nov 4 to 90% on Dec 9.0%50%100%Spring: later frostFeb 1Mar 1Apr 130%: Mar 15Fall: frost arrivedNov 1Dec 1Jan 130%: Nov 1332°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 USC00419207.
Frost-free growing season in Tyler, TX1 in 10 risk: Mar 27 to Nov 4 (222 days); 3 in 10 risk: Mar 15 to Nov 13 (243 days); Median (50%): Mar 7 to Nov 21 (259 days); No 28°F freeze: Feb 23 to Dec 4 (284 days). In 9 of 10 years the 32°F-free season is at least 230 days.Frost-free days, spring to fallJFMAMJJASOND1 in 10 risk222 days3 in 10 risk243 daysMedian (50%)259 daysNo 28°F freeze284 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 Tyler

All 8 ZIP codes covering Tyler are in zone 8b.

ZIP codes in Tyler and their zones
ZIPZoneShare of city land
757038b31.7%
757018b24.5%
757028b22.9%
757078b6.8%
757098b5.4%
757048b4.4%
757088b2.7%
757118b0.0%

Vegetable planting calendar for Tyler

Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 15, first frost Nov 13). 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 4 – Oct 2
Green Beans——Mar 22 – Apr 26Aug 21 – Sep 4
Sweet Corn——Mar 22 – Apr 19—
Zucchini & Summer SquashFeb 15 – Feb 22Mar 22 – Apr 5Mar 22 – Apr 12Aug 21 – Sep 4
CucumberFeb 15 – Feb 22Mar 29 – Apr 5Mar 22 – Apr 12Aug 21 – Sep 4
Carrot——Feb 22 – Mar 29Aug 21 – Sep 4
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 18 – Oct 16
KaleJan 18 – Feb 1Feb 15 – Mar 8Feb 15 – Mar 8Sep 4 – Oct 2
BroccoliJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 1 – Mar 22—Aug 21 – Sep 4
Peas——Feb 1 – Feb 22Sep 4 – Sep 18
EggplantJan 4 – Jan 18Mar 29 – Apr 12——
CabbageJan 18 – Feb 1Feb 15 – Mar 1—Aug 21 – Sep 4
Radish——Feb 8 – Mar 29Oct 2 – Oct 30
Strawberry—Feb 15 – Mar 8——
Beets——Feb 22 – Apr 5Sep 4 – Sep 18

Nearby cities in Texas

More: all Texas cities · other zone 8b cities: Dallas, TX, Fort Worth, TX, El Paso, TX, Virginia Beach, VA, Arlington, TX, Plano, TX, Irving, TX, Garland, TX

Tyler gardening questions

When is the last frost in Tyler, TX?

Plan around Mar 15. At NOAA's Tyler, TX station, 0.9 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 7, and after Mar 27 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 38 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.

When should I plant tomatoes in Tyler, 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 243 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 Tyler?

About 257 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 230 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 285 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 4 and a 30% chance by Nov 13. That ranks 33rd longest of 55 Texas cities on this site.

When should I plant a fall garden in Tyler?

Count back from the first fall frost (Nov 13): transplant broccoli Aug 21 – Sep 4; sow kale Sep 4 – Oct 2; sow lettuce Sep 4 – Oct 2; sow radishes Oct 2 – Oct 30. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Dec 4. How the math works: succession and fall planting.

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

No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Tyler is zone 8b on both the 2012 and the 2023 USDA maps (PRISM/OSU ZIP listings). About 42% of U.S. ZIP codes kept their half-zone in 2023. Why the 2023 map is warmer.

How does Tyler compare with Longview, TX?

Both are in zone 8b. The typical last spring frost in Tyler (Mar 15) comes about the same time as in Longview, TX (Mar 15), 35 miles away, and the first fall frost is Nov 13 versus Nov 14. Tyler sits about 222 ft higher, which explains part of the gap. The two cities use different NOAA stations.