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

Planting zone for 77342 — Huntsville, TX

ZIP code 77342 (Huntsville, Walker County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is March 2 and the first fall frost November 26.

Where ZIP 77342 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostMar 2
First frostNov 26
2012 zone8b

Was 8b 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 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Huntsville, 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 Huntsville, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 26median — 10% chance by Nov 7
Growing season272 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 8 and returns around December 16.

From the NOAA station Huntsville Municipal Airport, TX — 2 miles away, elevation 367 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 77342

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 19 – Feb 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 22 – Jan 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 22 – Jan 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 16 – Mar 30
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 1 – Oct 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 12 – Dec 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 2) and first fall frost (Nov 26) 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 77342 came on Jan 15 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 27).

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 Huntsville, TX.

Soil in Huntsville, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 77342 is Ferris — clay, well drained.

TextureClayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.3%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Ferris clay, 1 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 77342; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Huntsville, TX

Summer high95 °Faverage high, August
Winter low41 °Faverage low, January
Hot days111days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights19nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,144base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation43.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 75 °F 94°75° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 74 °F 95°74° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° NovDecember: average high 62 °F, low 43 °F 62°43° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 MarApril: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9a.

773439a
Huntsville, TX · 1 mi
773449a
Huntsville, TX · 1 mi
773489a
Huntsville, TX · 1 mi
773499a
Huntsville, TX · 1 mi
773419a
Huntsville, TX · 3 mi
773209a
Huntsville, TX · 5 mi
773409a
Huntsville, TX · 6 mi
773349a
Dodge, TX · 11 mi

All 8 ZIP codes in Huntsville → · Texas planting zones →

Questions about 77342

What planting zone is ZIP code 77342?

ZIP code 77342 (Huntsville, TX) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Huntsville, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 77342 is March 2; after March 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Huntsville Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Huntsville, TX?

The median first fall frost near 77342 is November 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 272 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 77342?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 5 – Jan 19 and set transplants outside around Mar 9 – Mar 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 77342 get?

About 43.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Huntsville Municipal Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Huntsville, TX?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in August, with about 111 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 77342 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ferris at the center of ZIP 77342: clay, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Huntsville, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 77342 came on Jan 15 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Huntsville, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 77342 is 14 h 08 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 77342 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 77342 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.