Jacksonville, TX Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Mar 22
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 14
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
237 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 8b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 1 Mar 22 Apr 8
First fall frost Dec 3 Nov 14 Oct 30
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 8 · first Nov 28

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the JACKSONVILLE 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 Jacksonville

Computed from Jacksonville'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 25 – Feb 8 Mar 29 – Apr 5
🫑 Peppers Jan 11 – Jan 25 Apr 5 – Apr 12
🥬 Lettuce Feb 8 – Feb 22 Feb 22 – Mar 8 Feb 22 – Mar 22
🫛 Peas Feb 8 – Feb 22
🥕 Carrots Mar 1 – Mar 22
🥦 Broccoli Feb 1 – Feb 15 Mar 1 – Mar 15
🥬 Kale Feb 8 – Feb 22 Feb 22 – Mar 8 Feb 22 – Mar 8
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 22 – Mar 1 Mar 29 – Apr 5 Mar 29 – Apr 5
🥒 Zucchini Feb 22 – Mar 1 Mar 29 – Apr 5 Mar 29 – Apr 5
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 29 – Apr 5
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 29 – Apr 5
🌿 Basil Feb 8 – Feb 22 Mar 29 – Apr 5 Apr 5 – Apr 12
🧄 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 Jacksonville's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Jacksonville

With roughly 237 frost-free days, Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville, TX?

The average last spring frost in Jacksonville is around Mar 22, 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 Jacksonville, TX?

The average first fall frost in Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville?

About 237 frost-free days on average, from Mar 22 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 Jacksonville 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.