Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Baytown, TX

Baytown, TX is in USDA zone 9b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 20 and the first fall frost December 4.

Baytown on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostFeb 20
First frostDec 4
Growing season292 days

9b 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Baytown, TX…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Baytown, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 4median — 10% chance by Nov 12
Growing season292 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 30 and returns around December 28.

From the NOAA station Baytown, TX, elevation 26 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Baytown

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 9 – Jan 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 12 – Dec 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 26 – Jan 9
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 12 – Dec 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 6 – Mar 20
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 9 – Oct 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 20 – Dec 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 20) and first fall frost (Dec 4) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 77522 came on Jan 11 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 23).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 9b in Texas

646 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 72

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °FArizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona walnut50 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 142

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican snowbell10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −16 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 212

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican century plant6 ft · blooms indeterminate · high shade tolerance · to 12 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 197

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °FArizona cottontop4 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FArizona fescue2 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona threeawn2 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −3 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Baytown, TX.

Soil in Baytown, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 77522 is Beaumont — clay, poorly drained.

TextureClayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH4.4strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3.64%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Beaumont-Urban land complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 77522; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Baytown, TX

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low41 °Faverage low, January
Hot days84days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights9nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,082base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 03 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation57.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 67 °F 84°67° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 73 °F 89°73° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 75 °F 92°75° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 74 °F 92°74° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° SepOctober: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 JanFebruary: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 FebMarch: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 4.93 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 6.51 in precipitation 6.5 JunJuly: 5.10 in precipitation 5.1 JulAugust: 5.52 in precipitation 5.5 AugSeptember: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 SepOctober: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 OctNovember: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Baytown, TX (12 mi away); precipitation: Houston Deer Park, TX (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Baytown

775209b
25 to 30 °F
775219b
25 to 30 °F
775229b
25 to 30 °F
775239b
25 to 30 °F

Texas planting zones →

Questions about Baytown

What planting zone is Baytown, TX?

Baytown, TX is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map (9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Baytown, TX?

The median last spring frost is February 20 and the median first fall frost is December 4 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Baytown station).

When can I plant a garden in Baytown, TX?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 9 – Jan 30; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 27, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Baytown, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 03 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Baytown, TX get?

About 57.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).