When To Plant In Central Texas

Knowing when to plant in central texas is the single most important factor for your garden’s success. Our unique climate, with its hot summers and occasional frosts, demands a specific schedule. Get your timing right, and your plants will thrive. Get it wrong, and you’ll face an uphill battle against the heat and cold.

This guide breaks down the central Texas planting calendar into simple, actionable steps. We’ll cover the two main growing seasons, highlight key dates, and give you a clear plan for your vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Central Texas gardening revolves around two distinct planting windows: the cool season and the warm season. The goal is to have most crops mature before the intense summer heat arrives or after it subsides. Our last average spring frost is around mid-March, and our first average fall frost is around late November. These dates are your anchors.

Understanding Your Central Texas Seasons

The cool season runs from about late September through early April. The warm season runs from mid-March through early October. Notice the overlap in March and April? That’s your transition period.

The Cool Season (Fall & Spring)

This is prime time for many delicious crops. Fall planting happens from late August to October. The soil is warm, but air temperatures are cooling. This gives plants time to establish roots before winter. Spring planting is a second chance for cool-season crops, sown from January to early March.

Best crops: Broccoli, cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, radishes, peas, and onions.
Key tip: For fall, start tomatoes and peppers indoors in summer for transplant in late summer—they’ll produce into fall.

The Warm Season (Spring & Summer)

These plants love heat and need to be planted after all danger of frost has passed. Wait until soil temperatures are consistently warm, usually from late March to early April. Planting to early can stunt growth.

Best crops: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra, cucumbers, squash, beans, corn, and melons.
Key tip: Okra, southern peas, and sweet potatoes are champions of the peak summer heat.

A Month-by-Month Planting Guide

Here’s a general timeline to keep you on track. Adjust based on your specific microclimate and yearly weather patterns.

January – February

This is planning and prep time. Start your cool-season crops indoors or under protection for transplanting later. You can also direct seed hardy vegetables if the ground isn’t frozen.

Start seeds indoors: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (late January/February).
Direct sow outdoors: Potatoes, onions, English peas, spinach, and kale.
Transplant: Onion sets, asparagus crowns, and bare-root fruit trees.

March – April

The great planting rush! The frost threat diminishes. Get your warm-season crops in the ground. You can still plant cool-season crops early in March.

Direct sow: Beans, corn, squash, cucumbers after March 15th.
Transplant: Your home-started tomato and pepper seedlings after they’re hardened off.
Plant: Herbs like basil, cilantro, and dill (cilantro will bolt quickly as it warms up).

May – June

Focus on heat-loving varieties. Ensure everything has a thick layer of mulch to conserve water. It’s your last chance to plant long-season crops like pumpkins.

Plant: Sweet potatoes, southern peas, okra, and malabar spinach.
Succession plant: More beans and corn for a continous harvest.

July – August

This is the toughest gardening period. Focus on maintenance and preparing for your fall garden. Start your fall crops indoors where it’s air-conditioned.

Start seeds indoors: Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts for fall.
Order: Your fall seeds and supplies.
Prepare garden beds: Add compost in August for fall planting.

September – October

Your second spring! As temperatures finally cool, it’s time to plant your fall garden. This season often produces the sweetest, most flavorful vegetables.

Transplant: Your fall brassicas (broccoli, etc.) into the garden.
Direct sow: Lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets, and turnips.
Plant: Garlic cloves for a harvest next summer.

November – December

Protect crops from early frosts with row covers. You can still plant hardy greens and roots for winter harvest. It’s also a good time to plant native trees and shrubs.

Plant: Onion sets, spinach, and kale for slow winter growth.
Mulch heavily: Around perennials and newly planted trees.

Essential Tips for Central Texas Success

Beyond timing, these practices are non-negotiable for our region.

Soil is Everything

Our native soil is often heavy clay. Amend it generously with compost every season. This improves drainage in winter and water retention in summer. Raised beds can be a game-changer for managing soil quality.

Watering Wisely

Deep, infrequent watering is key. It encourages deep roots that can access water during droughts. Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are far more efficient than overhead sprinklers, which can promote disease.

Mulch Heavily

A 3-4 inch layer of organic mulch (like shredded cedar or compost) keeps soil cool, suppresses weeds, and retains moisture. This is critical for surviving July and August.

Choose the Right Varieties

Select plants bred for heat tolerance and disease resistance. Look for VFN (resistant to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, nematodes) on tomato tags. Your local nursery will carry varieties that perform well here.

Common Planting Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced gardeners can make these errors. Here’s what to watch out for.

Planting too early in spring. Impatient gardeners often lose tender plants to a late frost.
Ignoring soil temperature. Some seeds, like beans, will rot in cool, damp soil.
Forgetting to harden off seedlings. Acclimate indoor-started plants to outdoor sun and wind over 7-10 days.
Overcrowding plants. Good air circulation prevents fungal diseases, which are common in our humidity.
Not reading seed packets. They provide the best specific timing for each variety.

FAQ: Your Central Texas Planting Questions

When is the best time to plant tomatoes in central Texas?

For a spring crop, transplant seedlings outdoors from mid-March to early April. For a fall crop, start seeds indoors in early July and transplant in late August.

What can I plant in the summer in central Texas?

Stick with extreme heat-lovers: okra, southern peas (black-eyed peas), sweet potatoes, and peppers. Herbs like rosemary and oregano also handle the heat well.

When should I plant wildflowers?

Sow wildflower seeds in the fall, between September and November. The winter rains help them establish roots for a spectacular spring bloom.

Is it to late to start a garden in April?

Not at all! April is perfect for planting all your warm-season crops like squash, cucumbers, and beans. You might just have a slightly later harvest.

What should I plant right now?

Check the month-by-month guide above. Your current month is your starting point. If your between seasons, focus on preparing your soil for the next planting window.

Gardening in Central Texas is incredibly rewarding once you sync with it’s natural rhythms. By using this planting schedule as your foundation, you give your plants the best possible start. Remember to keep a garden journal each year, noting what worked and what didn’t. Your own observations, combined with this guide, will lead to your most successful garden yet. Pay attention to the weather each year, as it can shift these dates slightly, and always be ready to protect tender plants from a suprise late frost.