Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Lubbock

United States

In Lubbock the last spring frost usually comes around 29 March and the first autumn frost around 16 November, which leaves about 232 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 5 April to 27 July.

Last spring frostaround 29 March
First autumn frostaround 16 November
Frost-free days232 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Lubbock?

The last frost in Lubbock usually comes around 29 March: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 8 March, while corn waits until 5 April. The first autumn frost follows around 16 November, about 232 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha3 February – 8 August15 March – 17 September5 April – 17 September
Ageratumfrom 18 January—from 5 April
Arugula——sow 8 March – 12 October
Basil5 February – 14 September15 March – 22 October5 April – 22 October
Beet——sow 8 March – 17 September
Bell Pepper14 January – 28 May15 March – 27 July5 April – 27 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 12 January—from 5 April
Bok Choy8 February – 25 September15 March – 30 October5 April – 30 October
Borage——sow 5 April – 22 September
Broad bean——sow 8 March – 8 August
Broccoli——sow 8 March – 1 August
Brussels Sprouts1 January – 29 June15 February – 13 August8 March – 13 August
Busy Lizziefrom 11 January—from 5 April
Cabbage——sow 8 March – 9 July
Calendula——sow from 8 March
Carrot——sow 8 March – 24 August
Cauliflower4 January – 1 August15 February – 12 September8 March – 12 September
Celeriac28 December – 29 May15 March – 14 August5 April – 14 August
Celery28 December – 8 June15 March – 24 August5 April – 24 August
Celosiafrom 29 Januaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Chamomile——sow 8 March – 12 September
Chayote17 December – 22 May15 March – 18 August5 April – 18 August
Chickpea——sow 8 March – 29 July
Chicory21 January – 23 August—8 March – 17 September
Chili Pepper14 January – 4 July15 March – 2 September5 April – 2 September
China asterfrom 22 Januaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Chives——sow 8 March – 3 September
Cilantro——sow 8 March – 13 September
Corn——sow 5 April – 29 July
Corn poppy——sow from 8 March
Cosmosfrom 29 Januaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Cucumber15 February – 4 August15 March – 1 September5 April – 1 September
Daikon——sow 8 March – 10 September
Delphiniumfrom 18 December—from 8 March
Dill——sow 8 March – 23 September
Edging lobeliafrom 11 January—from 5 April
Eggplant14 January – 28 May15 March – 27 July5 April – 27 July
Florence fennel29 January – 8 August15 March – 22 September5 April – 22 September
Foxglovefrom 30 November—from 8 March
Garden sorrel——sow 8 March – 11 September
Green Beans——sow 5 April – 6 August
Hollyhock——sow from 8 March
Hyssop——sow 8 March – 4 August
Kale——sow 8 March – 5 September
Kiwano11 February – 11 August15 March – 12 September5 April – 12 September
Kohlrabi——sow 8 March – 15 September
Leek7 December – 20 May15 February – 29 July8 March – 29 July
Lemon balm——sow 8 March – 7 September
Lettuce——sow 8 March – 20 September
Lisianthusfrom 20 Novemberfrom 15 Februaryfrom 8 March
Lovage——sow from 8 March
Luffa1 February – 5 June15 March – 17 July5 April – 17 July
Marigoldfrom 1 Februaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Marjoram14 January – 23 August—5 April – 22 October
Melon15 February – 22 July15 March – 19 August5 April – 19 August
Microgreens——sow 5 April – 2 November
Moringa25 January – 28 August21 March – 22 October11 April – 22 October
Moss rosefrom 18 January—from 5 April
Mustard greens——sow 8 March – 2 October
Napa cabbage10 February – 2 September15 March – 5 October5 April – 5 October
Nasturtiumfrom 5 Februaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Okra1 February – 16 August15 March – 27 September5 April – 27 September
Oregano17 December – 13 August15 February – 12 October8 March – 12 October
Pansyfrom 21 Decemberfrom 15 Februaryfrom 8 March
Parsley——sow 8 March – 1 September
Parsnip——sow 8 March – 21 July
Peanut6 February – 12 July15 March – 18 August5 April – 18 August
Peas——sow 8 March – 3 September
Petuniafrom 11 Januaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Physalis29 January – 9 July15 March – 23 August5 April – 23 August
Pumpkin1 February – 10 June15 March – 22 July5 April – 22 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 15 December—from 8 March
Radish——sow 8 March – 17 October
Sage28 December – 9 August15 February – 27 September8 March – 27 September
Scarlet sagefrom 22 January—from 5 April
Snapdragonfrom 12 Decemberfrom 15 Februaryfrom 8 March
Soybean——sow 5 April – 28 August
Spinach——sow 8 March – 22 September
Stevia25 January – 30 June15 March – 18 August5 April – 18 August
Stock——sow from 8 March
Sunflower——sow from 5 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 8 March
Sweet Corn21 February – 23 August15 March – 14 September5 April – 14 September
Sweet peafrom 4 Januaryfrom 15 Februaryfrom 8 March
Sweet William——sow from 8 March
Swiss Chard——sow 8 March – 17 September
Thyme——sow 8 March – 29 July
Tomato22 January – 5 June15 March – 27 July5 April – 27 July
Turnip——sow 8 March – 19 September
Watercress——sow 8 March – 30 September
Watermelon15 February – 10 July15 March – 7 August5 April – 7 August
Zinniafrom 14 Februaryfrom 21 Marchfrom 11 April
Zucchini22 February – 9 August15 March – 30 August5 April – 30 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Lubbock

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 49 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 15 days before it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C8 February49 days earlier
15 °C14 March15 days earlier
18 °C31 March2 days later

Frost dates near Lubbock

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Fort Worth (19 February) and latest in Santa Fe (United States) (20 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Amarillo179 km6 April4 November
Lawton336 km1 March11 November
Fort Worth431 km19 February30 November
Santa Fe (United States)442 km20 April26 October
Oklahoma City447 km14 March10 November

What to grow at home in winter in Lubbock

Frosts in Lubbock usually come from about 16 November to about 29 March. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Lubbock by month

Average weather in Lubbock over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: March–October (21.8–34.6 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (33.3 °C), July (34.6 °C) and August (33.9 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-0.3 °C). About 368 mm of rain falls in a year, on 59 days; May is the wettest month (53 mm) and February the driest (11 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January12.5-0.3193
February16.41.4113
March21.86.7223
April25.810.4345
May29.815.6539
June33.320.4447
July34.622.6246
August33.922.2375
September29.918.1436
October2512386
November18.76273
December15.22.1163

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 17 October
Crocusby 17 October
Daffodilby 17 October
Garlic17 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 17 October
Helleboreby 17 October
Hyacinthby 17 October
Lilyby 17 October
Ornamental onionby 17 October
Peonyby 17 October
Saffronby 17 October
Snowdropby 17 October
Tulipby 17 October
Wild garlicby 17 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).