Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 76853 — Lometa, TX

ZIP code 76853 (Lometa, Lampasas County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 22 and the first fall frost November 12.

Where ZIP 76853 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 22

First frostNov 12

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 Lometa, 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 Lometa, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostMarch 22median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsApril 10only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Oct 29

Growing season238 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 6 and returns around November 26.

From the NOAA station Lampasas, TX — 17 miles away, elevation 1,034 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 76853

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22

SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Mar 1

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 1 – Mar 15

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15

LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15

TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8

TomatoesTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19

BeansSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 22) and first fall frost (Nov 12) 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 76853 came on Feb 3 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1).

average
Feb 12026
Feb 3

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.

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 Lometa, TX.

Soil in Lometa, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 76853 is Nuff — silty clay, well drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up

pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter3%moderate

Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly

Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Nuff silty clay, 1 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 76853; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lometa, TX

Summer high97 °Faverage high, August

Winter low34 °Faverage low, January

Hot days106days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights55nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days6,370base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 11 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day10 h 07 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb

Precipitation32.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lampasas, TX (17 mi away); precipitation: Nix Store 1 W, TX (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

Goldthwaite, TX · 15 mi

Pottsville, TX · 26 mi

Texas planting zones →

Questions about 76853

What planting zone is ZIP code 76853?

ZIP code 76853 (Lometa, 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 Lometa, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 76853 is March 22; after April 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lampasas station.

When is the first frost in Lometa, TX?

The median first fall frost near 76853 is November 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 238 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 76853?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 25 – Feb 8 and set transplants outside around Mar 29 – Apr 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 76853 get?

About 32.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Nix Store 1 W station).

How hot do summers get in Lometa, TX?

The average high peaks at 97 °F in August, with about 106 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 76853 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nuff at the center of ZIP 76853: silty clay, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Lometa, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 76853 came on Feb 3 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lometa, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 76853 is 14 h 11 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 76853 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 76853 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.