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

Planting zone for 76309 — Wichita Falls, TX

ZIP code 76309 (Wichita Falls, Wichita County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost November 9.

Where ZIP 76309 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostMar 26
First frostNov 9
2012 zone7b

Was 7b 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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Wichita Falls, 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 Wichita Falls, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 9median — 10% chance by Oct 25
Growing season228 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 12 and returns around November 18.

From the NOAA station Wichita Falls Municipal Airport, TX — 6 miles away, elevation 1,017 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 76309

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
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 26) 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 76309 came on Feb 8 — 3 days earlier than 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 Wichita Falls, TX.

Soil in Wichita Falls, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 76309 is Mangum — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mangum silty clay loam.

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 76309; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wichita Falls, TX

Summer high97 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days105days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights59nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,873base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 25 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 54 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation27.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall3 inper year; 2 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 60 °F 84°60° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 68 °F 92°68° JunJuly: average high 97 °F, low 72 °F 97°72° JulAugust: average high 97 °F, low 72 °F 97°72° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 64 °F 88°64° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.20 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 1.2❄1 JanFebruary: 1.40 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 1.4❄1 FebMarch: 2.02 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.0 MarApril: 2.50 in precipitation 2.5 AprMay: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 2.02 in precipitation 2.0 JulAugust: 2.53 in precipitation 2.5 AugSeptember: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 1.63 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.6 NovDecember: 1.56 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 1.6❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wichita Falls Municipal Airport, TX (6 mi away); precipitation: Wichita Falls Municipal Airport, TX (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

763088a
Wichita Falls, TX · 3 mi
763078a
Wichita Falls, TX · 3 mi
763018a
Wichita Falls, TX · 4 mi
763068a
Wichita Falls, TX · 4 mi
763028a
Wichita Falls, TX · 4 mi
763118a
Sheppard Afb, TX · 6 mi
763108a
Wichita Falls, TX · 6 mi
763678a
Iowa Park, TX · 11 mi

All 8 ZIP codes in Wichita Falls → · Texas planting zones →

Questions about 76309

What planting zone is ZIP code 76309?

ZIP code 76309 (Wichita Falls, TX) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Wichita Falls, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 76309 is March 26; after April 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wichita Falls Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Wichita Falls, TX?

The median first fall frost near 76309 is November 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 228 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 76309?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 29 – Feb 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 2 – Apr 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 76309 get?

About 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wichita Falls Municipal Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Wichita Falls, TX?

The average high peaks at 97 °F in July, with about 105 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 76309 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mangum at the center of ZIP 76309: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Wichita Falls, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 76309 came on Feb 8 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wichita Falls, TX?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 76309 is 14 h 25 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 76309 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 76309 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.