Houston, TX Vegetable Planting Calendar

What to plant now in Houston

In October:

• Last day to sow carrots for a fall harvest (by Oct 2)
• Last day to sow cucumbers for a fall harvest (by Oct 3)
• Last day to sow peas for a fall harvest (by Oct 7)
• Last day to set out broccoli transplants for a fall harvest (by Oct 7)
• Last day to sow summer squash for a fall harvest (by Oct 8)
• Last day to sow lettuce (leaf) for a fall harvest (by Oct 12)
• Last day to sow green onions for a fall harvest (by Oct 12)
• Last day to sow beets for a fall harvest (by Oct 12)
• Last day to sow swiss chard for a fall harvest (by Oct 12)
• Last day to sow kohlrabi for a fall harvest (by Oct 22)
• Last day to sow turnips for a fall harvest (by Oct 22)

The list above is for the month this page was built; the box is refreshed in your browser for today's date.

Spring planting dates

“Plant out” means transplanting for crops started indoors and sowing or planting directly in the garden for the others. Each column applies CSU Extension's timing rule to a different last-frost anchor: aggressive = typical date (Feb 2, 50% risk), balanced = Feb 18 (30%), safe = Mar 5 (10%). For hardy crops the cell shows the CSU “as early as” window.

Frost odds aren't the only check. CSU recommends measuring soil temperature at 4 inches (6 inches for beans) before you sow. NOAA doesn't publish soil-temperature normals, so we list each crop's minimum soil temperature from CSU instead of a date.

Fall planting dates

Latest dates for a fall harvest, using the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension count-back formula: days to harvest (CSU) + 14-day fall factor + 14-day frost-tender factor for frost-sensitive crops, counted back from the first-frost date. For transplanted crops (CSU days are from transplant) the result is the latest transplant date; seeds go in CSU's transplant-age weeks earlier. We add no harvest period, so these dates give you a first harvest by the first frost, not a long harvest.

Month-by-month: what to plant in Houston

What to plant in Houston in January

• Onions (dry, from sets): plant sets outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Peas: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Lettuce (leaf): direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Broccoli: transplant outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Cabbage: transplant outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Kohlrabi: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Green onions: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Radishes: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Spinach: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Turnips: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Start pepper seeds indoors (Jan 7–21)
• Start tomato seeds indoors (Jan 17–31)
• Potatoes: plant (seed pieces) outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Carrots: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Cauliflower: transplant outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Beets: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Swiss chard: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Parsnips: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Start eggplant seeds indoors (Dec 31 – Jan 21)

What to plant in Houston in February

• Beans (snap): direct sow outdoors (Feb 2 – Mar 5)
• Summer squash: direct sow outdoors (Feb 2 – Mar 5)
• Sweet corn: direct sow outdoors (Feb 2 – Mar 5)
• Cucumbers: direct sow outdoors (Feb 2 – Mar 5)
• Peppers: transplant outdoors (Feb 16 – Mar 19)
• Eggplant: transplant outdoors (Feb 16 – Mar 19)
• Cantaloupe: direct sow outdoors (Feb 16 – Mar 19)
• Watermelon: direct sow outdoors (Feb 16 – Mar 19)
• Winter squash: direct sow outdoors (Feb 16 – Mar 19)
• Onions (dry, from sets): plant sets outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Peas: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Lettuce (leaf): direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Broccoli: transplant outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Cabbage: transplant outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Kohlrabi: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Green onions: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Radishes: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Spinach: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Turnips: direct sow outdoors (Jan 5 – Feb 19)
• Potatoes: plant (seed pieces) outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Carrots: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Cauliflower: transplant outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Beets: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Swiss chard: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Parsnips: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)

What to plant in Houston in March

• Tomatoes: transplant outdoors (Mar 7–19)
• Potatoes: plant (seed pieces) outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Carrots: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Cauliflower: transplant outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Beets: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Swiss chard: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Parsnips: direct sow outdoors (Jan 19 – Mar 5)
• Beans (snap): direct sow outdoors (Feb 2 – Mar 5)
• Summer squash: direct sow outdoors (Feb 2 – Mar 5)
• Sweet corn: direct sow outdoors (Feb 2 – Mar 5)
• Cucumbers: direct sow outdoors (Feb 2 – Mar 5)
• Peppers: transplant outdoors (Feb 16 – Mar 19)
• Eggplant: transplant outdoors (Feb 16 – Mar 19)
• Cantaloupe: direct sow outdoors (Feb 16 – Mar 19)
• Watermelon: direct sow outdoors (Feb 16 – Mar 19)
• Winter squash: direct sow outdoors (Feb 16 – Mar 19)

What to plant in Houston in July

• Start cabbage seeds indoors for a fall crop (Jul 30 – Aug 13)

What to plant in Houston in August

• Start broccoli seeds indoors for a fall crop (Aug 19 – Sep 2)
• Start cabbage seeds indoors for a fall crop (Jul 30 – Aug 13)

What to plant in Houston in September

• Last day to set out cabbage transplants for a fall harvest (by Sep 17)
• Last day to sow beans (snap) for a fall harvest (by Sep 28)
• Start broccoli seeds indoors for a fall crop (Aug 19 – Sep 2)

What to plant in Houston in October

• Last day to sow carrots for a fall harvest (by Oct 2)
• Last day to sow cucumbers for a fall harvest (by Oct 3)
• Last day to sow peas for a fall harvest (by Oct 7)
• Last day to set out broccoli transplants for a fall harvest (by Oct 7)
• Last day to sow summer squash for a fall harvest (by Oct 8)
• Last day to sow lettuce (leaf) for a fall harvest (by Oct 12)
• Last day to sow green onions for a fall harvest (by Oct 12)
• Last day to sow beets for a fall harvest (by Oct 12)
• Last day to sow swiss chard for a fall harvest (by Oct 12)
• Last day to sow kohlrabi for a fall harvest (by Oct 22)
• Last day to sow turnips for a fall harvest (by Oct 22)

What to plant in Houston in November

• Last day to sow spinach for a fall harvest (by Nov 1)
• Last day to sow radishes for a fall harvest (by Nov 11)

What to plant in Houston in December

• Start broccoli seeds indoors (Dec 3–17)
• Start cabbage seeds indoors (Dec 3–17)
• Start cauliflower seeds indoors (Dec 17–31)
• Start eggplant seeds indoors (Dec 31 – Jan 21)

Crop-by-crop notes

When to plant tomatoes in Houston

Very tender crop. CSU Extension's rules are to set tomatoes out at least 2 weeks after the average last frost and only once nights are above 52°F. In Houston, the frost rule alone would allow about Feb 16, but the average nightly low at Houston-Port first rises above 52°F on Mar 7, so the dates shown start no earlier than that: about Mar 7 using the typical date, Mar 7 as a balanced choice, or Mar 19 if you go by the safer 10% date. Start seeds indoors Jan 17–31, 5–7 weeks before transplanting on Mar 7. CSU notes that nights under 55°F hurt fruit set. The normal low at Houston-Port climbs to 55°F on Mar 24. CSU's typical time from transplant to harvest for tomato plants is 65 days. Set out on Mar 7, they would start producing around May 11, 228 days before the typical first frost (Dec 25).

When to plant peppers in Houston

Very tender crop. CSU Extension's rule is to set peppers out at least 2 weeks after the average last frost. That's about Feb 16 using the typical date, Mar 4 as a balanced choice, or Mar 19 if you go by the safer 10% date. Start seeds indoors Jan 7–21, 6–8 weeks before transplanting on Mar 4. CSU notes that nights under 55°F hurt fruit set. The normal low at Houston-Port climbs to 55°F on Mar 24. Set out on Mar 4, pepper plants would start producing around May 13, based on CSU's typical 70 days from transplant to harvest. That leaves 226 days before the typical first frost (Dec 25).

When to plant potatoes in Houston

Semi-hardy crop. Per CSU, potatoes can go in as early as 0–2 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 19 – Feb 2 in Houston (typical date) or Feb 19 – Mar 5 (safer date). The soil should be at least 45°F.

When to plant onions (dry, from sets) in Houston

Hardy crop. CSU says onions (dry, from sets) can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 5–19 in Houston using the typical date, or Feb 5–19 using the safer one. Wait until the soil can be worked and is at least 35°F.

When to plant peas in Houston

Hardy crop. CSU says peas can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost, once the soil can be worked and is at least 40°F. In Houston, that's roughly Jan 5–19 going by the typical date, or Feb 5–19 going by the safer date. For a fall crop, sow by Oct 7, or by Sep 9 to be safe. That's 79 days back from the first-frost date.

When to plant lettuce (leaf) in Houston

Hardy crop. CSU says lettuce (leaf) can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 5–19 in Houston using the typical date, or Feb 5–19 using the safer one. Wait until the soil can be worked and is at least 35°F. For fall, count back 74 days from the first-frost date. That means sowing by Oct 12, or by Sep 14 to be safe.

When to plant carrots in Houston

Semi-hardy crop. CSU allows planting carrots as early as 0–2 weeks before the average last frost, in soil at 40°F or warmer. For Houston, that's roughly Jan 19 – Feb 2 by the typical date or Feb 19 – Mar 5 by the safer date. For a fall crop, sow by Oct 2, or by Sep 4 to be safe. That's 84 days back from the first-frost date.

When to plant beans (snap) in Houston

Tender crop. Sow beans (snap) around the average last frost, per CSU: about Feb 2 in Houston. Waiting until Mar 5 cuts the chance of a later 32°F night to 1 in 10. Seeds need soil of at least 55°F. For fall, sow by Sep 28 (Aug 31 to be safe), which is 88 days before the first-frost date.

When to plant summer squash in Houston

Tender crop. CSU's timing for summer squash is around the average last frost, which is about Feb 2 in Houston. For only a 1-in-10 chance of a later 32°F night, hold off until Mar 5. Seeds want soil at 60°F or warmer. For fall, count back 78 days from the first-frost date. That means sowing by Oct 8, or by Sep 10 to be safe.

When to plant broccoli in Houston

Hardy crop. Per CSU, broccoli can be planted as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost, as long as the soil is workable and at least 40°F. For Houston, that works out to roughly Jan 5–19 (typical date) or Feb 5–19 (safer date). CSU's typical time from transplant to harvest for broccoli plants is 65 days. Set out on Jan 21, they would start producing around Mar 27, 273 days before the typical first frost (Dec 25). For a fall harvest of broccoli, get transplants in the ground by Oct 7 (UNL Extension count-back from the typical first frost, Dec 25, with CSU's 65 days from transplant to harvest). To raise your own, sow seeds Aug 19 – Sep 2, 5–7 weeks ahead (CSU).

When to plant cabbage in Houston

Hardy crop. CSU says cabbage can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 5–19 in Houston using the typical date, or Feb 5–19 using the safer one. Wait until the soil can be worked and is at least 40°F. Set out on Jan 21, cabbage plants would start producing around Apr 16, based on CSU's typical 85 days from transplant to harvest. That leaves 253 days before the typical first frost (Dec 25). For a fall crop, set cabbage transplants out by Sep 17. That's UNL Extension's count-back from the typical first frost (Dec 25), using CSU's 85 days from transplant to harvest. If you grow your own transplants, start seeds Jul 30 – Aug 13 (CSU: 5–7 weeks to transplant size).

When to plant cauliflower in Houston

Semi-hardy crop. CSU says cauliflower can be planted as early as 0–2 weeks before the average last frost, in soil of at least 40°F. In Houston, that's roughly Jan 19 – Feb 2 going by the typical date, or Feb 19 – Mar 5 going by the safer date.

When to plant kohlrabi in Houston

Hardy crop. Per CSU, kohlrabi can be planted as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost, as long as the soil is workable and at least 40°F. For Houston, that works out to roughly Jan 5–19 (typical date) or Feb 5–19 (safer date). For a fall crop, sow by Oct 22, or by Sep 24 to be safe. That's 64 days back from the first-frost date.

When to plant green onions in Houston

Hardy crop. Per CSU, green onions can be planted as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost, as long as the soil is workable and at least 35°F. For Houston, that works out to roughly Jan 5–19 (typical date) or Feb 5–19 (safer date). For a fall crop, sow by Oct 12, or by Sep 14 to be safe. That's 74 days back from the first-frost date.

When to plant radishes in Houston

Hardy crop. CSU says radishes can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 5–19 in Houston using the typical date, or Feb 5–19 using the safer one. Wait until the soil can be worked and is at least 40°F. For fall, count back 44 days from the first-frost date. That means sowing by Nov 11, or by Oct 14 to be safe.

When to plant spinach in Houston

Hardy crop. CSU says spinach can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 5–19 in Houston using the typical date, or Feb 5–19 using the safer one. Wait until the soil can be worked and is at least 40°F. For fall, sow by Nov 1 (Oct 4 to be safe), which is 54 days before the first-frost date.

When to plant turnips in Houston

Hardy crop. CSU says turnips can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 5–19 in Houston using the typical date, or Feb 5–19 using the safer one. Wait until the soil can be worked and is at least 40°F. For fall, count back 64 days from the first-frost date. That means sowing by Oct 22, or by Sep 24 to be safe.

When to plant beets in Houston

Semi-hardy crop. CSU allows planting beets as early as 0–2 weeks before the average last frost, in soil at 40°F or warmer. For Houston, that's roughly Jan 19 – Feb 2 by the typical date or Feb 19 – Mar 5 by the safer date. For fall, sow by Oct 12 (Sep 14 to be safe), which is 74 days before the first-frost date.

When to plant swiss chard in Houston

Semi-hardy crop. Per CSU, swiss chard can go in as early as 0–2 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 19 – Feb 2 in Houston (typical date) or Feb 19 – Mar 5 (safer date). The soil should be at least 40°F. For a fall crop, sow by Oct 12, or by Sep 14 to be safe. That's 74 days back from the first-frost date.

When to plant parsnips in Houston

Semi-hardy crop. CSU allows planting parsnips as early as 0–2 weeks before the average last frost, in soil at 35°F or warmer. For Houston, that's roughly Jan 19 – Feb 2 by the typical date or Feb 19 – Mar 5 by the safer date.

When to plant sweet corn in Houston

Tender crop. CSU says to sow sweet corn around the average last frost, about Feb 2 in Houston. If you want only a 1-in-10 chance of a later 32°F night, wait until Mar 5. Seeds need soil of at least 50°F.

When to plant cucumbers in Houston

Tender crop. CSU says to sow cucumbers around the average last frost, about Feb 2 in Houston. If you want only a 1-in-10 chance of a later 32°F night, wait until Mar 5. Seeds need soil of at least 60°F. For fall, sow by Oct 3 (Sep 5 to be safe), which is 83 days before the first-frost date.

When to plant eggplant in Houston

Very tender crop. CSU Extension's rule is to set eggplant out at least 2 weeks after the average last frost. That's about Feb 16 using the typical date, Mar 4 as a balanced choice, or Mar 19 if you go by the safer 10% date. Start seeds indoors Dec 31 – Jan 21, 6–9 weeks before transplanting on Mar 4. Set out on Mar 4, eggplant plants would start producing around May 3, based on CSU's typical 60 days from transplant to harvest. That leaves 236 days before the typical first frost (Dec 25).

When to plant cantaloupe in Houston

Very tender crop. Following CSU Extension's rule of 2+ weeks after the average last frost, plant cantaloupe around Feb 16 at the earliest, Mar 4 as a balanced choice, or Mar 19 to be safe. CSU's minimum soil temperature is 60°F.

When to plant watermelon in Houston

Very tender crop. Following CSU Extension's rule of 2+ weeks after the average last frost, plant watermelon around Feb 16 at the earliest, Mar 4 as a balanced choice, or Mar 19 to be safe. CSU's minimum soil temperature is 60°F.

When to plant winter squash in Houston

Very tender crop. CSU Extension's rule is to plant winter squash at least 2 weeks after the average last frost. That's about Feb 16 using the typical date, Mar 4 as a balanced choice, or Mar 19 if you go by the safer 10% date. Seeds need soil of at least 60°F.

How these dates are calculated

CSU states its spring rules relative to “the average last spring frost.” We use the 50% date as that average and also show the 30% and 10% anchors. See the methodology for details and limitations.

FAQ

When should I start seeds indoors in Houston?

Start tomatoes Jan 17–31 and peppers Jan 7–21. Both dates count back from a balanced (30%-risk) transplant date using CSU's transplant ages.

When should I plant tomatoes outside in Houston?

CSU Extension's rules for tomatoes are 2+ weeks after the average last frost and nights above 52°F. The frost rule alone would allow about Feb 16 here, but the average nightly low at Houston-Port isn't above 52°F until Mar 7. With both rules, the dates are about Mar 7 at the earliest, Mar 7 as a balanced choice, or Mar 19 to be safe.

What can I plant in Houston in the fall?

These sowing deadlines count back from the typical first frost (Dec 25) using UNL Extension's method: peas by Oct 7; lettuce (leaf) by Oct 12; carrots by Oct 2; beans (snap) by Sep 28; summer squash by Oct 8; broccoli by Oct 7 (transplants); cabbage by Sep 17 (transplants); kohlrabi by Oct 22; green onions by Oct 12; radishes by Nov 11; spinach by Nov 1; turnips by Oct 22; beets by Oct 12; swiss chard by Oct 12; cucumbers by Oct 3.

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