Sweetwater, TX planting zone & frost dates
Sweetwater is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost usually comes around March 30 and the first fall frost around November 8, for a growing season of about 223 days.
Planting calendar for Sweetwater
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (March 30) 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: Feb 2 – Feb 16 Transplant outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 13 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 19 – Feb 2 Transplant outdoors: Apr 13 – Apr 20 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 19 – Feb 2 Transplant outdoors: Apr 13 – Apr 20 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 19 – Feb 2 Transplant outdoors: Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 19 – Feb 2 Transplant outdoors: Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 13 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 13 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 13 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 13 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 16 – Mar 2 Transplant outdoors: Apr 6 – Apr 13 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 13 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 8).
Useful for zone 8a 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
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Mar 8 | Mar 30 | Apr 17 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 25 | Nov 8 | Oct 26 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 17, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 26. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 16.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Sweetwater
- 79556 zone 8a
Nearby cities
- Snyder zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Abilene zone 8a, last frost Mar 20
- San Angelo zone 8a, last frost Mar 20
- Big Spring zone 8a, last frost Mar 20
- Brownwood zone 8a, last frost Mar 22
- Midland zone 8a, last frost Mar 26
- Lubbock zone 7b, last frost Mar 24
- Vernon zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
Questions
What growing zone is Sweetwater, TX?
Sweetwater is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a (average extreme winter low 10°F to 15°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Sweetwater?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Sweetwater is March 30. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 17.
When can I plant tomatoes in Sweetwater?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 6 – Apr 13. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Roscoe, TX (USC00417743), 11.6 km (7.2 mi) from the city center, elevation 725 m, based on 23 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.