Friendswood, TX planting zone & frost dates
Friendswood is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost usually comes around January 31 and the first fall frost around December 27, for a growing season of about 328 days.
Planting calendar for Friendswood
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (January 31) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Dec 6 – Dec 20 Transplant outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Feb 14 – Feb 21 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Feb 14 – Feb 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 Transplant outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Nov 1 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Dec 27).
Useful for zone 9b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Shade cloth — for hot summers
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Jan 1 | Jan 31 | Mar 5 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Jan 28 | Dec 27 | Nov 28 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after March 5, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 28. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around January 18.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Friendswood
- 77546 zone 9b
- 77549 zone 9b
Nearby cities
- Webster zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Pearland zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- League City zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Alvin zone 9b, last frost Feb 14
- South Houston zone 9b, last frost Jan 30
- Pasadena zone 9b, last frost Feb 2
- Dickinson zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Santa Fe zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
Questions
What growing zone is Friendswood, TX?
Friendswood is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b (average extreme winter low 25°F to 30°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Friendswood?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Friendswood is January 31. There is still a 10% chance of frost until March 5.
When can I plant tomatoes in Friendswood?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Feb 7 – Feb 14. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Houston Clover Fld, TX (USW00012975), 4.1 km (2.5 mi) from the city center, elevation 13 m, based on 17 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.