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

Planting zone for 79562 — Tuscola, TX

ZIP code 79562 (Tuscola, Taylor County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost November 3.

Where ZIP 79562 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 frostApr 2
First frostNov 3
2012 zone8a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Tuscola, 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 Tuscola, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 3median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season215 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 20 and returns around November 14.

From the NOAA station Merkel 12 Sw, TX — 16 miles away, elevation 2,251 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 79562

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 8 – Sep 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 20 – Nov 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Nov 3) 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 79562 came on Feb 9 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7).

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).

Soil in Tuscola, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 79562 is Pitzer — gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
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: Pitzer gravelly 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 79562; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tuscola, TX

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days99days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights68nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,707base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation27.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 33 °F 61°33° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 41 °F 69°41° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 49 °F 78°49° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 59 °F 85°59° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 67 °F 91°67° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 70 °F 94°70° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 69 °F 93°69° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 62 °F 86°62° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 51 °F 78°51° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.09 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 1.1 JanFebruary: 1.47 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.5 FebMarch: 1.95 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.9 MarApril: 2.34 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.3 AprMay: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 2.33 in precipitation 2.3 AugSeptember: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 OctNovember: 1.61 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.6 NovDecember: 1.23 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Merkel 12 Sw, TX (16 mi away); precipitation: Tuscola 2nw, TX (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

795088a
Buffalo Gap, TX · 3 mi
795418a
Ovalo, TX · 7 mi
796038a
Abilene, TX · 8 mi
796068a
Abilene, TX · 9 mi
795308a
Lawn, TX · 10 mi
795638a
Tye, TX · 13 mi
796078a
Dyess Afb, TX · 13 mi
796028a
Abilene, TX · 14 mi

Texas planting zones →

Questions about 79562

What planting zone is ZIP code 79562?

ZIP code 79562 (Tuscola, 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 Tuscola, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 79562 is April 2; after April 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Merkel 12 Sw station.

When is the first frost in Tuscola, TX?

The median first fall frost near 79562 is November 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 215 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 79562?

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

How much rain and snow does 79562 get?

About 27.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tuscola 2nw station).

How hot do summers get in Tuscola, TX?

The average high peaks at 94 °F in July, with about 99 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 79562 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pitzer at the center of ZIP 79562: gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Tuscola, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 79562 came on Feb 9 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Tuscola, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 79562 is 14 h 16 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.