Planting zone for 78342 — Ben Bolt, TX
ZIP code 78342 (Ben Bolt, Jim Wells County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F.
Where ZIP 78342 is
Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot 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.
Was 9a 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 9b means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for Ben Bolt, 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
A 32 °F frost doesn't happen here in most winters. At the nearest station (NOAA station Alice, TX — 5 miles away, elevation 200 ft) the median growing season is 337 days. When frost does come, it is a midwinter night or two; cover tender plants when a freeze is forecast.
Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
When spring arrived in 2026
In 2026, spring leaf-out near 78342 came on Jan 10 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 19).
Jan 192026
Jan 10
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).
Soil in Ben Bolt, TX
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 78342 is Delfina — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.
Map unit: Delfina fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 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 78342; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Ben Bolt, TX
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Alice, TX (5 mi away); precipitation: Alice, TX (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9b.
Questions about 78342
What planting zone is ZIP code 78342?
ZIP code 78342 (Ben Bolt, TX) is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 25 to 30 °F (−3.9 to −1.1 °C).
How much rain and snow does 78342 get?
About 27.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alice station).
How hot do summers get in Ben Bolt, TX?
The average high peaks at 97 °F in July, with about 144 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 78342 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Delfina at the center of ZIP 78342: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).
Did spring come early in Ben Bolt, TX in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 78342 came on Jan 10 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Ben Bolt, TX?
Short-day onions: the longest day near 78342 is 13 h 54 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.
Did the zone for 78342 change?
Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 78342 in zone 9a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.