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

Planting zone for 79838 — Fabens, TX

ZIP code 79838 (Fabens, El Paso County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost November 6.

Where ZIP 79838 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 frostMar 21
First frostNov 6
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 Fabens, 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 Fabens, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 6median — 10% chance by Oct 24
Growing season227 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 5 and returns around November 14.

From the NOAA station Tornillo 2 Sse, TX — 8 miles away, elevation 3,524 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 79838

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 11 – Sep 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 23 – Nov 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 21) and first fall frost (Nov 6) 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 79838 came on Feb 4 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4).

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 8a in Texas

601 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Texas, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. 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 133

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 200

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 eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Grasses 177

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 Fabens, TX.

Soil in Fabens, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 79838 is Saneli — silty clay loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Saneli silty clay loam.

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 79838; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fabens, TX

Summer high98 °Faverage high, June
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days110days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights81nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,549base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 12 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation8.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 29 °F 61°29° JanFebruary: average high 67 °F, low 33 °F 67°33° FebMarch: average high 75 °F, low 40 °F 75°40° MarApril: average high 83 °F, low 47 °F 83°47° AprMay: average high 91 °F, low 54 °F 91°54° MayJune: average high 98 °F, low 63 °F 98°63° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 67 °F 95°67° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 66 °F 94°66° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 59 °F 89°59° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 48 °F 81°48° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 35 °F 70°35° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 29 °F 60°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.36 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.37 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.4 FebMarch: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 MarApril: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 1.68 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 1.45 in precipitation 1.4 AugSeptember: 1.12 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 0.77 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.8 OctNovember: 0.36 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 0.4 NovDecember: 0.54 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 0.5❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tornillo 2 Sse, TX (8 mi away); precipitation: Tornillo 2 Sse, TX (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

7 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

798368b
Clint, TX · 7 mi
798538a
Tornillo, TX · 7 mi
798498b
San Elizario, TX · 8 mi
799278b
El Paso, TX · 13 mi
799288b
El Paso, TX · 14 mi
799108b
El Paso, TX · 17 mi
799148b
El Paso, TX · 17 mi
799178b
El Paso, TX · 17 mi

Texas planting zones →

Questions about 79838

What planting zone is ZIP code 79838?

ZIP code 79838 (Fabens, 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 Fabens, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 79838 is March 21; after April 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tornillo 2 Sse station.

When is the first frost in Fabens, TX?

The median first fall frost near 79838 is November 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 227 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 79838?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 24 – Feb 7 and set transplants outside around Mar 28 – Apr 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 79838 get?

About 8.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tornillo 2 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Fabens, TX?

The average high peaks at 98 °F in June, with about 110 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 79838 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Saneli at the center of ZIP 79838: silty clay loam, moderately well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Fabens, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 79838 came on Feb 4 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fabens, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 79838 is 14 h 12 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.