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

Planting zone for New Braunfels, TX

New Braunfels, TX is in USDA zone 9a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 8 and the first fall frost November 18.

New Braunfels 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMar 8
First frostNov 18
Growing season253 days

9a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for New Braunfels, 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 New Braunfels, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 18median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season253 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 24 and returns around December 2.

From the NOAA station New Braunfels, TX, elevation 722 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 New Braunfels

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 28 – Jan 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 28 – Jan 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 23 – Oct 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 4 – Dec 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 8) and first fall frost (Nov 18) 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 78131 came on Jan 20 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26).

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 9a in Texas

640 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. 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 141

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 208

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 196

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 New Braunfels, TX.

Soil in New Braunfels, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 78131 is Krum — clay, well drained.

TextureClayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.0alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Krum clay, 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 78131; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in New Braunfels, TX

Summer high95 °Faverage high, August
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days117days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights32nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,606base 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
Precipitation35.4 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 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° FebMarch: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 72 °F 93°72° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 71 °F 95°71° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F 81°56° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° NovDecember: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.28 in precipitation 2.3 JanFebruary: 1.81 in precipitation 1.8 FebMarch: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 MarApril: 2.43 in precipitation 2.4 AprMay: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 JulAugust: 2.50 in precipitation 2.5 AugSeptember: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: New Braunfels, TX (4 mi away); precipitation: New Braunfels 0.1 Ene, TX (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in New Braunfels

781309a
20 to 25 °F
781319a
20 to 25 °F
781329a
20 to 25 °F
781359a
20 to 25 °F

Texas planting zones →

Questions about New Braunfels

What planting zone is New Braunfels, TX?

New Braunfels, TX is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in New Braunfels, TX?

The median last spring frost is March 8 and the median first fall frost is November 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, New Braunfels station).

When can I plant a garden in New Braunfels, TX?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 25 – Feb 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 15, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in New Braunfels, 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 New Braunfels, TX get?

About 35.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).