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Austin, Texas · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Austin

This month's sowing list for Austin, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

28 vegetables to sow or plant now

28 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around February 21, and frost is unlikely after about March 13.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish, arugula, bok choy, beets, cilantro and scallions.

Sow or plant in Austin in October

Start seeds indoors

  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Onion
  • Parsley

Direct sow

  • Arugula
  • Beets
  • Bok choy
  • Carrot
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Peas
  • Radish
  • Rutabaga
  • Scallions
  • Spinach
  • Swiss chard
  • Turnip

Transplant

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Strawberry

Ready to pick in October

  • Arugula
  • Basil
  • Beets
  • Bell pepper
  • Bok choy
  • Bush beans
  • Cantaloupe
  • Chives
  • Cucumber
  • Dill
  • Eggplant
  • Hot pepper
  • Kale
  • Okra
  • Parsley
  • Pole beans
  • Radish
  • Scallions
  • Sweet corn
  • Sweet potato
  • Swiss chard
  • Tomato
  • Watermelon
  • Winter squash
  • Zucchini

Coming up in November

  • Fava beans

When to plant the favourites in Austin

Tomato

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: February and June to July.

Transplant: March to April and August.

Best time to start: March to April.

Pick: June to November.

First pick about 16 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: February to March.

Best time to start: February to March.

Pick: May to June and November to December.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: October to December.

Best time to start: October to December.

Pick: March to July.

First pick about 24 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Direct sow: October to March.

Best time to start: October to March.

Pick: November to May.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Direct sow: September to April.

Best time to start: September to March.

Pick: November to May.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Bush beans

Direct sow: March to April and August to September.

Best time to start: March to April and August.

Pick: May to July and September to November.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Onion

Onions

Start seeds indoors: August to January.

Transplant: October to March.

Best time to start: October to March.

Pick: March to June.

First pick about 24 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: October to April.

Best time to start: October to March.

Pick: March to July.

First pick about 18 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: March to April and June to July.

Direct sow: March to August.

Transplant: March to May and July to August.

Best time to start: March to August.

Pick: June to November.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: March to May and July to September.

Direct sow: March to September.

Transplant: March to June and August to September.

Best time to start: March to August.

Pick: May to November.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Austin

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
ArugulaSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
BasilTSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
BeetsSSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
Bell pepperTTPPPTPPabout 15 weeks
Bok choySSSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
BroccoliPPPPPPTPabout 14 weeks
Brussels sproutsPPTPabout 24 weeks
Bush beansSSSSabout 7 weeks
CabbagePPPPPPTPabout 16 weeks
CantaloupeSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
CarrotSSSSSSSSabout 10 weeks
CauliflowerPPPPTPabout 18 weeks
CeleriacPPPPPTTTabout 27 weeks
CeleryPPPPPPTTTabout 24 weeks
ChivesSSSSSSSPTPabout 10 weeks
CilantroSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
CucumberSSSSTSSabout 5 weeks
DillSSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
EggplantTTPPPPPPabout 16 weeks
Fava beansSSSabout 14 weeks
GarlicPPPabout 24 weeks
Hot pepperTTPPPPPPabout 17 weeks
KaleSSSSSSPTSabout 8 weeks
LeekPPPPPPTTabout 22 weeks
LettuceSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
OkraSSSSSabout 5 weeks
OnionPPPPPPTTabout 24 weeks
ParsleySSSSSSSTSabout 10 weeks
ParsnipSSSSabout 18 weeks
PeasSSSSSSabout 10 weeks
Pole beansSSSSabout 8 weeks
PotatoPPabout 10 weeks
RadishSSSSSSSSabout 3 weeks
Runner beansSabout 9 weeks
RutabagaSSSSabout 16 weeks
ScallionsSSSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
SpinachSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
StrawberryPPPPPPPabout 18 weeks
Sweet cornSSSSSSPabout 8 weeks
Sweet potatoPPPPPabout 10 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
TomatoTPPTTPabout 16 weeks
TurnipSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
WatermelonTSSSSSabout 9 weeks
Winter squashSSSSSSabout 12 weeks
ZucchiniSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Austin season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, okra, pole beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, bush beans, cabbage, carrot, celery, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, peas, pole beans, potato, radish, scallions, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard, tomato and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chives, kale, leek, onion, parsley, pole beans and tomato.

Last chance for: bell pepper, cantaloupe, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon and winter squash.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, beets, bok choy, carrot, cilantro, dill, fava beans, garlic, lettuce, parsnip, peas, radish, runner beans, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Last chance for: basil, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cucumber, pole beans, runner beans, sweet corn and zucchini.

Winter December to February

Time to start: basil, bell pepper, eggplant, hot pepper, potato and tomato.

Last chance for: cauliflower, celeriac, fava beans, garlic, parsnip and rutabaga.

Frost in Austin

Last frost, most years
around February 21
Frost is unlikely after
about March 13
First frost, most years
around November 21
Frost-free days in a year
about 273

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Questions about planting in Austin

What can I plant now in Austin?

In October, 28 vegetables can be sown or planted in Austin, including arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot and cauliflower. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Austin?

In Austin, sow tomatoes indoors in February and from June to July and transplant them from March to April and in August. The best time to start is from March to April. Picking runs from June to November.

When should I plant potatoes in Austin?

In Austin, plant potatoes from February to March. The best time to start is from February to March. Picking runs from May to June and from November to December.

When should I plant garlic in Austin?

In Austin, plant garlic from October to December. The best time to start is from October to December. Picking runs from March to July.

When is the last frost in Austin?

In most years the last frost in Austin comes around February 21. Frost is unlikely after about March 13, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 21.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Austin?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), bok choy (about 5 weeks), cucumber (about 5 weeks), basil (about 6 weeks), zucchini (about 6 weeks), beets (about 7 weeks) and bush beans (about 7 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

What to plant now in New York · What to plant now in Boston · What to plant now in Chicago · What to plant now in Atlanta · What to plant now in Dallas · What to plant now in Houston · What to plant now in Denver · What to plant now in Phoenix · What to plant now in Seattle · What to plant now in Portland · What to plant now in Los Angeles · What to plant now in San Diego

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Austin. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).

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