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

Planting zone for Victoria, TX

Victoria, TX is in USDA zones 9a to 9b across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 14 and the first fall frost December 9.

Victoria 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.

Zones9a–9b20 to 30 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostFeb 14
First frostDec 9
Growing season299 days

9a 1 ZIP   9b 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Victoria, 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 Victoria, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 9median — 10% chance by Nov 17
Growing season299 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 28 and returns around December 31.

From the NOAA station Victoria Fire Dept #5, TX, elevation 102 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 Victoria

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 3 – Jan 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 6 – Dec 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 6 – Dec 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 28 – Mar 14
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 14 – Oct 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 25 – Dec 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 14) and first fall frost (Dec 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 77903 came on Jan 15 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 22).

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 Victoria, TX.

Soil in Victoria, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 77903 is Dacosta — sandy clay loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSandy clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.86%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dacosta-Urban land complex, 0 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 77903; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Victoria, TX

Summer high94 °Faverage high, August
Winter low42 °Faverage low, January
Hot days116days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights14nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,504base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day13 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 18 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation40.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° JanFebruary: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° FebMarch: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 68 °F 85°68° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 73 °F 91°73° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 75 °F 93°75° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 75 °F 94°75° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° SepOctober: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° OctNovember: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° NovDecember: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.17 in precipitation 2.2 FebMarch: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 MarApril: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 2.54 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Victoria Fire Dept #5, TX (4 mi away); precipitation: Victoria Cp&L, TX (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Victoria

779019b
25 to 30 °F
779029b
25 to 30 °F
779039b
25 to 30 °F
779049a
20 to 25 °F
779059b
25 to 30 °F

Texas planting zones →

Questions about Victoria

What planting zone is Victoria, TX?

Victoria, TX is in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F; 9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Victoria, TX?

The median last spring frost is February 14 and the median first fall frost is December 9 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Victoria Fire Dept #5 station).

When can I plant a garden in Victoria, TX?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 3 – Jan 24; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 21, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Victoria, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 13 h 59 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Victoria, TX get?

About 40.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).