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

Planting zone for 79926 — El Paso, TX

ZIP code 79926 (El Paso, El Paso County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 2 and the first fall frost November 20.

Where ZIP 79926 is

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 2
First frostNov 20
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 El Paso, 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 El Paso, 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 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 20median — 10% chance by Nov 6
Growing season261 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 16 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station El Paso Intl Airport, TX — 9 miles away, elevation 3,918 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 79926

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 · Sep 25 – Oct 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 6 – Dec 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 2) and first fall frost (Nov 20) 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 79926 came on Feb 4 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (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.

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 137

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 204

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 188

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 El Paso, TX.

Soil in El Paso, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 79926 is Harkey — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.9%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Harkey 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 79926; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in El Paso, TX

Summer high97 °Faverage high, June
Winter low34 °Faverage low, December
Hot days117days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights42nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,347base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation9.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 59 °F, low 35 °F 59°35° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MarApril: average high 80 °F, low 53 °F 80°53° AprMay: average high 89 °F, low 62 °F 89°62° MayJune: average high 97 °F, low 71 °F 97°71° JunJuly: average high 96 °F, low 73 °F 96°73° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 72 °F 94°72° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 65 °F 88°65° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.26 in precipitation 0.3 MarApril: 0.21 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 MayJune: 0.74 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 1.67 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.42 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 0.71 in precipitation 0.7 OctNovember: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: El Paso Intl Airport, TX (9 mi away); precipitation: El Paso 8.8 Se, TX (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

799108b
El Paso, TX · <1 mi
799148b
El Paso, TX · <1 mi
799178b
El Paso, TX · <1 mi
799238b
El Paso, TX · <1 mi
799298b
El Paso, TX · <1 mi
799318b
El Paso, TX · <1 mi
799378b
El Paso, TX · <1 mi
799408b
El Paso, TX · <1 mi

All 135 ZIP codes in El Paso → · Texas planting zones →

Questions about 79926

What planting zone is ZIP code 79926?

ZIP code 79926 (El Paso, 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 El Paso, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 79926 is March 2; after March 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, El Paso Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in El Paso, TX?

The median first fall frost near 79926 is November 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 261 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 79926?

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 79926 get?

About 9.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, El Paso 8.8 Se station).

How hot do summers get in El Paso, TX?

The average high peaks at 97 °F in June, with about 117 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 79926 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Harkey at the center of ZIP 79926: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in El Paso, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 79926 came on Feb 4 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in El Paso, TX?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 79926 is 14 h 13 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 79926 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 79926 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.