Gainesville 5 ENE, TX Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Gainesville 5 ENE garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 19
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 14
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
240 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 8b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Feb 28 Mar 19 Apr 6
First fall frost Dec 2 Nov 14 Oct 31
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 5 · first Nov 28

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the GAINESVILLE 5 ENE station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Gainesville 5 ENE

Computed from Gainesville 5 ENE's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-8 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Jan 22 – Feb 5 Mar 26 – Apr 2
🫑 Peppers Jan 8 – Jan 22 Apr 2 – Apr 9
🥬 Lettuce Feb 5 – Feb 19 Feb 19 – Mar 5 Feb 19 – Mar 19
🫛 Peas Feb 5 – Feb 19
🥕 Carrots Feb 26 – Mar 19
🥦 Broccoli Jan 29 – Feb 12 Feb 26 – Mar 12
🥬 Kale Feb 5 – Feb 19 Feb 19 – Mar 5 Feb 19 – Mar 5
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 19 – Feb 26 Mar 26 – Apr 2 Mar 26 – Apr 2
🥒 Zucchini Feb 19 – Feb 26 Mar 26 – Apr 2 Mar 26 – Apr 2
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 26 – Apr 2
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 26 – Apr 2
🌿 Basil Feb 5 – Feb 19 Mar 26 – Apr 2 Apr 2 – Apr 9
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 3 – Oct 31

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Gainesville 5 ENE's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Gainesville 5 ENE

With roughly 240 frost-free days, Gainesville 5 ENE gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 14 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Gainesville 5 ENE, TX?

The average last spring frost in Gainesville 5 ENE is around Mar 19, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Gainesville 5 ENE, TX?

The average first fall frost in Gainesville 5 ENE arrives around Nov 14. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Gainesville 5 ENE?

About 240 frost-free days on average, from Mar 19 to Nov 14. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Gainesville 5 ENE in?

USDA zone 8b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.