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

Planting zone for 76638 — Crawford, TX

ZIP code 76638 (Crawford, McLennan County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 15 and the first fall frost November 18.

Where ZIP 76638 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 15
First frostNov 18
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 Crawford, 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 Crawford, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 18median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season249 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 2 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Mcgregor, TX — 9 miles away, 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 76638

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
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 15) 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 76638 came on Feb 6 — 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2).

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 Crawford, TX.

Soil in Crawford, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 76638 is Aledo — gravelly clay loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.8slightly alkaline; 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: Aledo gravelly clay loam, 1 to 8 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 76638; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Crawford, TX

Summer high96 °Faverage high, August
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days95days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights35nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,185base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 12 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation36.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 69 °F 91°69° 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 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° NovDecember: average high 61 °F, low 36 °F 61°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.45 in precipitation 2.5 JanFebruary: 2.58 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.6 FebMarch: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 MarApril: 3.15 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.1 AprMay: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 1.57 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 2.42 in precipitation 2.4 AugSeptember: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 2.86 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.9 NovDecember: 2.66 in precipitation 2.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mcgregor, TX (9 mi away); precipitation: Crawford, TX (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

766898b
Valley Mills, TX · 8 mi
766578b
Mc Gregor, TX · 9 mi
765618b
Oglesby, TX · 11 mi
767128b
Woodway, TX · 11 mi
766338b
China Spring, TX · 12 mi
767038b
Waco, TX · 14 mi
767148b
Waco, TX · 14 mi
767158b
Waco, TX · 14 mi

Texas planting zones →

Questions about 76638

What planting zone is ZIP code 76638?

ZIP code 76638 (Crawford, 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 Crawford, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 76638 is March 15; after April 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mcgregor station.

When is the first frost in Crawford, TX?

The median first fall frost near 76638 is November 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 249 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 76638?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 18 – Feb 1 and set transplants outside around Mar 22 – Apr 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 76638 get?

About 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crawford station).

How hot do summers get in Crawford, TX?

The average high peaks at 96 °F in August, with about 95 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 76638 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Aledo at the center of ZIP 76638: gravelly clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.8 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Crawford, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 76638 came on Feb 6 in 2026, 4 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Crawford, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 76638 is 14 h 12 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 76638 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 76638 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.