When is the last frost in El Paso, TX?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in El Paso is March 2, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until March 19.

When is the first frost in El Paso?

The average first fall frost in El Paso is November 20, with a growing season of about 261 days.

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El Paso, Texas frost dates

Average last spring frost: March 2. Average first fall frost: November 20. That gives a growing season of about 261 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is March 19, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Mar 2

1-in-10 risk after Mar 19

First frost (50%)

Nov 20

1-in-10 risk before Nov 6

Growing season

261 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Feb 16

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	February 12	December 2
70%	February 24	November 25
50%	March 2	November 20
30%	March 9	November 14
10%	March 19	November 6

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after March 19. These are NOAA probabilities for the El Paso International Airport weather station (USW00023044, elevation 1194 m), 1991–2020.

El Paso vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (March 2). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (Mar 19) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Feb 9	Mar 9 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Dec 22	Feb 2
Brussels sprouts	Dec 22	Feb 2
Cabbage	Dec 15	Jan 26
Cauliflower	Jan 5	Feb 16
Sweet corn	Feb 2	Mar 2 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Feb 16	Mar 9
Kale	Dec 15	Jan 26
Leeks	Nov 17	Jan 26
Lettuce	Jan 12	Feb 16
Melons	Feb 23	Mar 16
Onions	Nov 10	Jan 19 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Jan 5	Feb 2 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Jan 19	Mar 16
Squash	Feb 23	Mar 16
Tomatoes	Jan 5	Mar 2

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around November 20. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before November 6. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around December 1.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Albuquerque, NM	Apr 6	Nov 3	~359 km
Santa Fe, NM	May 4	Oct 15	~423 km
Tucson, AZ	Feb 5	Dec 9	~433 km
Lubbock, TX	Apr 4	Nov 2	~476 km
Phoenix, AZ	Jan 5	Jan 3	~560 km
Amarillo, TX	Apr 13	Oct 27	~581 km

More: all Texas frost dates