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

Planting zone for Gainesville, TX

Gainesville, TX is in USDA zone 8a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost November 14.

Gainesville 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 19
First frostNov 14
Growing season242 days

8a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gainesville, 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 Gainesville, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 14median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season242 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 5 and returns around November 28.

From the NOAA station Gainesville 5 Ene, TX, elevation 869 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 Gainesville

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 19 – Oct 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 31 – Dec 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 14) 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 76240 came on Feb 9 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11).

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 8a in Texas

601 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. 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 133

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 200

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 eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Grasses 177

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 Gainesville, TX.

Soil in Gainesville, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 76240 is Lindy — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lindy loam, 1 to 5 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 76240; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gainesville, TX

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days82days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights50nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,701base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation42.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall3 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° JanFebruary: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 73 °F 94°73° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 72 °F 94°72° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.21 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 2.2❄1 JanFebruary: 2.56 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.6 FebMarch: 3.65 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.6❄1 MarApril: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 5.64 in precipitation 5.6 MayJune: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 JulAugust: 2.83 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 3.02 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.0 NovDecember: 3.11 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gainesville 5 Ene, TX (7 mi away); precipitation: Gainesville 5 Ene, TX (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Gainesville

762408a
10 to 15 °F
762418a
10 to 15 °F

Texas planting zones →

Questions about Gainesville

What planting zone is Gainesville, TX?

Gainesville, TX is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Gainesville, TX?

The median last spring frost is March 19 and the median first fall frost is November 14 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gainesville 5 Ene station).

When can I plant a garden in Gainesville, TX?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 5 – Feb 26; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 26, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Gainesville, TX?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 23 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Gainesville, TX get?

About 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).