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

Planting zone for Fort Bliss, TX

Fort Bliss, TX is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 2 and the first fall frost November 20.

Fort Bliss on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 2
First frostNov 20
Growing season261 days

8b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fort Bliss, 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 Fort Bliss, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 20median — 10% chance by Nov 6
Growing season261 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 16 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station El Paso Intl Airport, TX, elevation 3,918 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 Fort Bliss

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 19 – Feb 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 22 – Jan 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 22 – Jan 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 16 – Mar 30
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 25 – Oct 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 6 – Dec 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 2) and first fall frost (Nov 20) 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 79916 came on Feb 5 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4).

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 8b in Texas

620 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 70

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 137

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 204

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 188

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 Fort Bliss, TX.

Soil in Fort Bliss, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 79916 is Hueco — loamy fine sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.35%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hueco loamy fine sand, 1 to 3 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 79916; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Bliss, TX

Summer high97 °Faverage high, June
Winter low34 °Faverage low, December
Hot days117days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights42nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,347base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation12.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 59 °F, low 35 °F 59°35° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MarApril: average high 80 °F, low 53 °F 80°53° AprMay: average high 89 °F, low 62 °F 89°62° MayJune: average high 97 °F, low 71 °F 97°71° JunJuly: average high 96 °F, low 73 °F 96°73° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 72 °F 94°72° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 65 °F 88°65° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.75 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 AprMay: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 1.01 in precipitation 1.0 JunJuly: 1.84 in precipitation 1.8 JulAugust: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 2.26 in precipitation 2.3 SepOctober: 0.83 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.87 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: El Paso Intl Airport, TX (4 mi away); precipitation: El Paso 3.3 Nne, TX (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Fort Bliss

799168b
15 to 20 °F
799188b
15 to 20 °F

Texas planting zones →

Questions about Fort Bliss

What planting zone is Fort Bliss, TX?

Fort Bliss, TX is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Fort Bliss, TX?

The median last spring frost is March 2 and the median first fall frost is November 20 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, El Paso Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Fort Bliss, TX?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 19 – Feb 9; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 9, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Bliss, TX?

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

How much rain and snow does Fort Bliss, TX get?

About 12.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).