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

Planting zone for 76121 — Fort Worth, TX

ZIP code 76121 (Fort Worth, Tarrant County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 10 and the first fall frost November 20.

Where ZIP 76121 is

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
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 10
First frostNov 20
2012 zone8a

Was 8a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fort Worth, 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 Worth, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 20median — 10% chance by Nov 4
Growing season255 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 26 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Ft Worth Wsfo, TX — 4 miles away, elevation 643 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 76121

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 30 – Jan 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 30 – Jan 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
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 10) 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 76121 came on Feb 7 — 3 days later than 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 Worth, TX.

Soil in Fort Worth, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 76121 is Bastsil — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.4slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bastsil-Urban land complex, 0 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 76121; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Worth, TX

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days98days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights32nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,256base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation38.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 47 °F 67°47° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 64 °F 82°64° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 75 °F 94°75° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 75 °F 94°75° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.40 in precipitation 2.4 JanFebruary: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 2.44 in precipitation 2.4 AugSeptember: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 2.65 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ft Worth Wsfo, TX (4 mi away); precipitation: Richland Hills 0.5 W, TX (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

760078b
Arlington, TX · <1 mi
760948b
Arlington, TX · <1 mi
760968b
Arlington, TX · <1 mi
761018b
Fort Worth, TX · <1 mi
761138b
Fort Worth, TX · <1 mi
761248b
Fort Worth, TX · <1 mi
761308b
Fort Worth, TX · <1 mi
761368b
Fort Worth, TX · <1 mi

All 54 ZIP codes in Fort Worth → · Texas planting zones →

Questions about 76121

What planting zone is ZIP code 76121?

ZIP code 76121 (Fort Worth, TX) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Fort Worth, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 76121 is March 10; after March 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Worth Wsfo station.

When is the first frost in Fort Worth, TX?

The median first fall frost near 76121 is November 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 255 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 76121?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 13 – Jan 27 and set transplants outside around Mar 17 – Mar 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 76121 get?

About 38.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Richland Hills 0.5 W station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Worth, TX?

The average high peaks at 94 °F in July, with about 98 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 76121 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bastsil at the center of ZIP 76121: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.4 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Fort Worth, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 76121 came on Feb 7 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Worth, TX?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 76121 is 14 h 19 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 76121 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 76121 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.