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

Planting zone for Gatesville, TX

Gatesville, TX is in USDA zone 8b across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost November 9.

Gatesville on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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 codes5
Last frostMar 19
First frostNov 9
Growing season236 days

8b 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gatesville, 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 Gatesville, 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 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 9median — 10% chance by Oct 25
Growing season236 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 5 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Gatesville, TX, elevation 827 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 Gatesville

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 14 – Sep 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 26 – Nov 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 9) 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 76599 came on Feb 3 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1).

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 Gatesville, TX.

Soil in Gatesville, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 76599 is Slidell — silty clay, moderately well drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.0alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Slidell silty clay, 0 to 2 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 76599; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gatesville, TX

Summer high96 °Faverage high, August
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days110days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights43nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,486base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 12 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation37 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 70 °F 91°70° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 72 °F 95°72° JulAugust: average high 96 °F, low 72 °F 96°72° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 65 °F 90°65° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° NovDecember: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.32 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.3 JanFebruary: 2.54 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 MarApril: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 2.63 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.53 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gatesville, TX (4 mi away); precipitation: Gatesville, TX (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Gatesville

765288b
15 to 20 °F
765968b
15 to 20 °F
765978b
15 to 20 °F
765988b
15 to 20 °F
765998b
15 to 20 °F

Texas planting zones →

Questions about Gatesville

What planting zone is Gatesville, TX?

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

When is the last frost in Gatesville, TX?

The median last spring frost is March 19 and the median first fall frost is November 9 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gatesville station).

When can I plant a garden in Gatesville, 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 Gatesville, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 12 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Gatesville, TX get?

About 37 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).