Rockport, TX planting zone & frost dates
Rockport is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost usually comes around January 31 and the first fall frost around December 25, for a growing season of about 328 days.
Planting calendar for Rockport
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (January 31) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Dec 6 – Dec 20 Transplant outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Feb 14 – Feb 21 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Feb 14 – Feb 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 Transplant outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Oct 30 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Dec 25).
Useful for zone 9b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Shade cloth — for hot summers
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Dec 26 | Jan 31 | Feb 28 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Jan 31 | Dec 25 | Nov 28 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after February 28, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 28. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around January 20.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Rockport
- 78381 zone 9b
- 78382 zone 9b
Nearby cities
- Portland zone 10a, last frost Jan 31
- Corpus Christi zone 10a, last frost Jan 31
- Robstown zone 9b, last frost Jan 26
- Port Lavaca zone 9b, last frost Feb 1
- Victoria zone 9b, last frost Feb 14
- Beeville zone 9b, last frost Feb 17
- Kingsville zone 9b, last frost Jan 25
- Alice zone 9b, last frost Jan 29
Questions
What growing zone is Rockport, TX?
Rockport is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b (average extreme winter low 25°F to 30°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Rockport?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Rockport is January 31. There is still a 10% chance of frost until February 28.
When can I plant tomatoes in Rockport?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Feb 7 – Feb 14. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Rockport, TX (USC00417704), 0.3 km (0.2 mi) from the city center, elevation 2 m, based on 20 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.