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Houston, Texas · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Houston

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

October

32 vegetables to sow or plant now

28 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around February 9, and frost is unlikely after about March 5.

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

Sow or plant in Houston in October

Start seeds indoors

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • 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
  • Swiss chard
  • Turnip
  • Bush beans
  • Cucumber
  • Zucchini

Transplant

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Potato
  • Strawberry
  • Basil
  • Cucumber
  • Zucchini

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.

Last month to start: basil, bush beans, cucumber, potato and zucchini.

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
  • Spinach

When to plant the favourites in Houston

Tomato

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: January to February and June to July.

Transplant: March to April and August to September.

Best time to start: March to April and August.

Pick: May to December.

First pick about 16 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: February to March and October.

Best time to start: February and October.

Pick: April to June and December to January.

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 7 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Direct sow: September to March.

Best time to start: September to March.

Pick: November to May.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Bush beans

Direct sow: March to April and August to October.

Best time to start: March to April and August to September.

Pick: May to July and September to December.

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: January to June.

First pick about 22 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: October to March.

Best time to start: October to March.

Pick: February to September.

First pick about 17 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: February to August.

Direct sow: March to August.

Transplant: March to September.

Best time to start: March to August.

Pick: June to December.

First pick about 11 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: February to September.

Direct sow: March to October.

Transplant: March to October.

Best time to start: March to September.

Pick: April to December.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Houston

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
ArugulaSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
BasilPTSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
BeetsSSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
Bell pepperTTPPPPPPPabout 15 weeks
Bok choySSSSSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
BroccoliPPPPPPTPabout 13 weeks
Brussels sproutsPPTPabout 22 weeks
Bush beansSSSSSabout 7 weeks
CabbagePPPPPPTPabout 14 weeks
CantaloupeTSSSSSSPabout 8 weeks
CarrotSSSSSSSabout 9 weeks
CauliflowerPPPPTPabout 16 weeks
CeleriacPPPPPTTabout 25 weeks
CeleryPPPPPPTTTabout 22 weeks
ChivesSSSSSSSPTPabout 9 weeks
CilantroSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
CucumberSTSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
DillSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
EggplantTTPPPPPPabout 16 weeks
Fava beansSSabout 13 weeks
GarlicPPPabout 24 weeks
Hot pepperTTPPPPPPPabout 17 weeks
KaleSSSSSSPTSabout 7 weeks
LeekPPPPPPTTabout 20 weeks
LettuceSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
OkraSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
OnionPPPPPPTTabout 22 weeks
ParsleySSSSSSSTSabout 9 weeks
ParsnipSSSSabout 16 weeks
PeasSSSSSSabout 9 weeks
Pole beansSSSSabout 8 weeks
PotatoPPPabout 10 weeks
RadishSSSSSSSSabout 3 weeks
Runner beansSabout 9 weeks
RutabagaSSSSabout 13 weeks
ScallionsSSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
SpinachSSSSabout 6 weeks
StrawberryPPPPPPabout 17 weeks
Sweet cornTSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
Sweet potatoPPPPPPabout 10 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
TomatoTTPPTTPPabout 16 weeks
TurnipSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
WatermelonPSSSSSabout 9 weeks
Winter squashTSSSSSSPabout 11 weeks
ZucchiniSTSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks

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

Houston season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: bush beans, okra, pole beans, sweet potato and watermelon.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, broccoli, bush beans, cabbage, carrot, celery, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, peas, pole beans, potato, radish, scallions, 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: bok choy, eggplant, sweet potato and watermelon.

Fall September to November

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

Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, potato, runner beans, sweet corn, tomato, winter squash and zucchini.

Winter December to February

Time to start: basil, bell pepper, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, potato, sweet corn, tomato, winter squash and zucchini.

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

Frost in Houston

Last frost, most years
around February 9
Frost is unlikely after
about March 5
First frost, most years
around December 20
Frost-free days in a year
about 314

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 Houston

What can I plant now in Houston?

In October, 32 vegetables can be sown or planted in Houston, including arugula, basil, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans and cabbage. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?

In Houston, sow tomatoes indoors from January to February and from June to July and transplant them from March to April and from August to September. The best time to start is from March to April and in August. Picking runs from May to December.

When should I plant potatoes in Houston?

In Houston, plant potatoes from February to March and in October. The best time to start is in February and in October. Picking runs from April to June and from December to January.

When should I plant garlic in Houston?

In Houston, 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 Houston?

In most years the last frost in Houston comes around February 9. Frost is unlikely after about March 5, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around December 20.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Houston?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 4 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), cucumber (about 5 weeks), basil (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), scallions (about 6 weeks) and spinach (about 6 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 Austin · 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 Houston. 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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