Austin, TX Vegetable Planting Calendar

What to plant now in Austin

In October:

• Last day to sow spinach for a fall harvest (by Oct 10)
• Last day to sow radishes for a fall harvest (by Oct 20)

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 20, 50% risk), balanced = Mar 2 (30%), safe = Mar 14 (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 Austin

What to plant in Austin in January

• Start eggplant seeds indoors (Jan 12 – Feb 2)
• Start pepper seeds indoors (Jan 19 – Feb 2)
• Onions (dry, from sets): plant sets outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Peas: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Lettuce (leaf): direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Broccoli: transplant outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Cabbage: transplant outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Kohlrabi: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Green onions: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Radishes: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Spinach: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Turnips: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Start tomato seeds indoors (Jan 26 – Feb 9)
• Start cauliflower seeds indoors (Dec 29 – Jan 12)

What to plant in Austin in February

• Potatoes: plant (seed pieces) outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Carrots: direct sow outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Cauliflower: transplant outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Beets: direct sow outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Swiss chard: direct sow outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Parsnips: direct sow outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Beans (snap): direct sow outdoors (Feb 20 – Mar 14)
• Summer squash: direct sow outdoors (Feb 20 – Mar 14)
• Sweet corn: direct sow outdoors (Feb 20 – Mar 14)
• Cucumbers: direct sow outdoors (Feb 20 – Mar 14)
• Start eggplant seeds indoors (Jan 12 – Feb 2)
• Start pepper seeds indoors (Jan 19 – Feb 2)
• Onions (dry, from sets): plant sets outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Peas: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Lettuce (leaf): direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Broccoli: transplant outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Cabbage: transplant outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Kohlrabi: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Green onions: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Radishes: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Spinach: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Turnips: direct sow outdoors (Jan 23 – Feb 28)
• Start tomato seeds indoors (Jan 26 – Feb 9)

What to plant in Austin in March

• Peppers: transplant outdoors (Mar 6–28)
• Eggplant: transplant outdoors (Mar 6–28)
• Cantaloupe: direct sow outdoors (Mar 6–28)
• Watermelon: direct sow outdoors (Mar 6–28)
• Winter squash: direct sow outdoors (Mar 6–28)
• Tomatoes: transplant outdoors (Mar 16–28)
• Potatoes: plant (seed pieces) outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Carrots: direct sow outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Cauliflower: transplant outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Beets: direct sow outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Swiss chard: direct sow outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Parsnips: direct sow outdoors (Feb 6 – Mar 14)
• Beans (snap): direct sow outdoors (Feb 20 – Mar 14)
• Summer squash: direct sow outdoors (Feb 20 – Mar 14)
• Sweet corn: direct sow outdoors (Feb 20 – Mar 14)
• Cucumbers: direct sow outdoors (Feb 20 – Mar 14)

What to plant in Austin in July

• Start cabbage seeds indoors for a fall crop (Jul 8–22)
• Start broccoli seeds indoors for a fall crop (Jul 28 – Aug 11)

What to plant in Austin in August

• Last day to set out cabbage transplants for a fall harvest (by Aug 26)
• Start broccoli seeds indoors for a fall crop (Jul 28 – Aug 11)

What to plant in Austin in September

• Last day to sow beans (snap) for a fall harvest (by Sep 6)
• Last day to sow carrots for a fall harvest (by Sep 10)
• Last day to sow cucumbers for a fall harvest (by Sep 11)
• Last day to sow peas for a fall harvest (by Sep 15)
• Last day to set out broccoli transplants for a fall harvest (by Sep 15)
• Last day to sow summer squash for a fall harvest (by Sep 16)
• Last day to sow lettuce (leaf) for a fall harvest (by Sep 20)
• Last day to sow green onions for a fall harvest (by Sep 20)
• Last day to sow beets for a fall harvest (by Sep 20)
• Last day to sow swiss chard for a fall harvest (by Sep 20)
• Last day to sow kohlrabi for a fall harvest (by Sep 30)
• Last day to sow turnips for a fall harvest (by Sep 30)

What to plant in Austin in October

• Last day to sow spinach for a fall harvest (by Oct 10)
• Last day to sow radishes for a fall harvest (by Oct 20)

What to plant in Austin in December

• Start broccoli seeds indoors (Dec 15–29)
• Start cabbage seeds indoors (Dec 15–29)
• Start cauliflower seeds indoors (Dec 29 – Jan 12)

Crop-by-crop notes

When to plant tomatoes in Austin

Very tender crop. CSU Extension says to transplant tomatoes at least 2 weeks after the average last frost, with nights above 52°F. The frost rule alone would put Austin at about Mar 6, but the average nightly low at Austin-Camp Mabry isn't above 52°F until Mar 16, so our dates start there: about Mar 16 (typical), Mar 16 (balanced) or Mar 28 (safer 10% date). Start seeds indoors Jan 26 – Feb 9, 5–7 weeks before transplanting on Mar 16. Below 55°F at night, fruit set suffers (CSU). At Austin-Camp Mabry, the normal low reaches 55°F on Mar 29. Set out on Mar 16, tomato plants would start producing around May 20, based on CSU's typical 65 days from transplant to harvest. That leaves 197 days before the typical first frost (Dec 3).

When to plant peppers in Austin

Very tender crop. CSU Extension's rule is 2+ weeks after the average last frost, which puts peppers outside around Mar 6 (typical date), Mar 16 (balanced) or Mar 28 (safer 10% date). Start seeds indoors Jan 19 – Feb 2, 6–8 weeks ahead of transplanting on Mar 16. Below 55°F at night, fruit set suffers (CSU). At Austin-Camp Mabry, the normal low reaches 55°F on Mar 29. Using CSU's typical 70 days from transplant to harvest, pepper plants set out on Mar 16 would start producing around May 25. That's 192 days before the typical first frost (Dec 3).

When to plant potatoes in Austin

Semi-hardy crop. CSU says potatoes can be planted as early as 0–2 weeks before the average last frost, in soil of at least 45°F. In Austin, that's roughly Feb 6–20 going by the typical date, or Feb 28 – Mar 14 going by the safer date.

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

Hardy crop. CSU says onions (dry, from sets) can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 23 – Feb 6 in Austin using the typical date, or Feb 14–28 using the safer one. Wait until the soil can be worked and is at least 35°F.

When to plant peas in Austin

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 Austin, that's roughly Jan 23 – Feb 6 going by the typical date, or Feb 14–28 going by the safer date. For fall, sow by Sep 15 (Aug 28 to be safe), which is 79 days before the first-frost date.

When to plant lettuce (leaf) in Austin

Hardy crop. CSU says lettuce (leaf) can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost, once the soil can be worked and is at least 35°F. In Austin, that's roughly Jan 23 – Feb 6 going by the typical date, or Feb 14–28 going by the safer date. For fall, count back 74 days from the first-frost date. That means sowing by Sep 20, or by Sep 2 to be safe.

When to plant carrots in Austin

Semi-hardy crop. Per CSU, carrots can go in as early as 0–2 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Feb 6–20 in Austin (typical date) or Feb 28 – Mar 14 (safer date). The soil should be at least 40°F. For fall, sow by Sep 10 (Aug 23 to be safe), which is 84 days before the first-frost date.

When to plant beans (snap) in Austin

Tender crop. Sow beans (snap) around the average last frost, per CSU: about Feb 20 in Austin. Waiting until Mar 14 cuts the chance of a later 32°F night to 1 in 10. Seeds need soil of at least 55°F. For fall, count back 88 days from the first-frost date. That means sowing by Sep 6, or by Aug 19 to be safe.

When to plant summer squash in Austin

Tender crop. CSU says to sow summer squash around the average last frost, about Feb 20 in Austin. If you want only a 1-in-10 chance of a later 32°F night, wait until Mar 14. Seeds need soil of at least 60°F. For fall, sow by Sep 16 (Aug 29 to be safe), which is 78 days before the first-frost date.

When to plant broccoli in Austin

Hardy crop. CSU says broccoli can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 23 – Feb 6 in Austin using the typical date, or Feb 14–28 using the safer one. Wait until the soil can be worked and is at least 40°F. Using CSU's typical 65 days from transplant to harvest, broccoli plants set out on Feb 2 would start producing around Apr 8. That's 239 days before the typical first frost (Dec 3). For a fall harvest of broccoli, get transplants in the ground by Sep 15 (UNL Extension count-back from the typical first frost, Dec 3, with CSU's 65 days from transplant to harvest). To raise your own, sow seeds Jul 28 – Aug 11, 5–7 weeks ahead (CSU).

When to plant cabbage in Austin

Hardy crop. Per CSU, cabbage 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 Austin, that works out to roughly Jan 23 – Feb 6 (typical date) or Feb 14–28 (safer date). Set out on Feb 2, cabbage plants would start producing around Apr 28, based on CSU's typical 85 days from transplant to harvest. That leaves 219 days before the typical first frost (Dec 3). For a fall harvest of cabbage, get transplants in the ground by Aug 26 (UNL Extension count-back from the typical first frost, Dec 3, with CSU's 85 days from transplant to harvest). To raise your own, sow seeds Jul 8–22, 5–7 weeks ahead (CSU).

When to plant cauliflower in Austin

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 Austin, that's roughly Feb 6–20 going by the typical date, or Feb 28 – Mar 14 going by the safer date.

When to plant kohlrabi in Austin

Hardy crop. CSU says kohlrabi can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Jan 23 – Feb 6 in Austin using the typical date, or Feb 14–28 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 Sep 30, or by Sep 12 to be safe.

When to plant green onions in Austin

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 Austin, that works out to roughly Jan 23 – Feb 6 (typical date) or Feb 14–28 (safer date). For a fall crop, sow by Sep 20, or by Sep 2 to be safe. That's 74 days back from the first-frost date.

When to plant radishes in Austin

Hardy crop. CSU says radishes 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 Austin, that's roughly Jan 23 – Feb 6 going by the typical date, or Feb 14–28 going by the safer date. For fall, sow by Oct 20 (Oct 2 to be safe), which is 44 days before the first-frost date.

When to plant spinach in Austin

Hardy crop. CSU says spinach 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 Austin, that's roughly Jan 23 – Feb 6 going by the typical date, or Feb 14–28 going by the safer date. For fall, sow by Oct 10 (Sep 22 to be safe), which is 54 days before the first-frost date.

When to plant turnips in Austin

Hardy crop. Per CSU, turnips 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 Austin, that works out to roughly Jan 23 – Feb 6 (typical date) or Feb 14–28 (safer date). For a fall crop, sow by Sep 30, or by Sep 12 to be safe. That's 64 days back from the first-frost date.

When to plant beets in Austin

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 Austin, that's roughly Feb 6–20 by the typical date or Feb 28 – Mar 14 by the safer date. For fall, count back 74 days from the first-frost date. That means sowing by Sep 20, or by Sep 2 to be safe.

When to plant swiss chard in Austin

Semi-hardy crop. Per CSU, swiss chard can go in as early as 0–2 weeks before the average last frost: roughly Feb 6–20 in Austin (typical date) or Feb 28 – Mar 14 (safer date). The soil should be at least 40°F. For fall, count back 74 days from the first-frost date. That means sowing by Sep 20, or by Sep 2 to be safe.

When to plant parsnips in Austin

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 Austin, that's roughly Feb 6–20 by the typical date or Feb 28 – Mar 14 by the safer date.

When to plant sweet corn in Austin

Tender crop. CSU says to sow sweet corn around the average last frost, about Feb 20 in Austin. If you want only a 1-in-10 chance of a later 32°F night, wait until Mar 14. Seeds need soil of at least 50°F.

When to plant cucumbers in Austin

Tender crop. CSU says to sow cucumbers around the average last frost, about Feb 20 in Austin. If you want only a 1-in-10 chance of a later 32°F night, wait until Mar 14. Seeds need soil of at least 60°F. For a fall crop, sow by Sep 11, or by Aug 24 to be safe. That's 83 days back from the first-frost date.

When to plant eggplant in Austin

Very tender crop. CSU Extension's rule is to set eggplant out at least 2 weeks after the average last frost. That's about Mar 6 using the typical date, Mar 16 as a balanced choice, or Mar 28 if you go by the safer 10% date. Start seeds indoors Jan 12 – Feb 2, 6–9 weeks before transplanting on Mar 16. Set out on Mar 16, eggplant plants would start producing around May 15, based on CSU's typical 60 days from transplant to harvest. That leaves 202 days before the typical first frost (Dec 3).

When to plant cantaloupe in Austin

Very tender crop. Following CSU Extension's rule of 2+ weeks after the average last frost, plant cantaloupe around Mar 6 at the earliest, Mar 16 as a balanced choice, or Mar 28 to be safe. CSU's minimum soil temperature is 60°F.

When to plant watermelon in Austin

Very tender crop. CSU Extension's rule is to plant watermelon at least 2 weeks after the average last frost. That's about Mar 6 using the typical date, Mar 16 as a balanced choice, or Mar 28 if you go by the safer 10% date. Seeds need soil of at least 60°F.

When to plant winter squash in Austin

Very tender crop. CSU Extension's rule is to plant winter squash at least 2 weeks after the average last frost. That's about Mar 6 using the typical date, Mar 16 as a balanced choice, or Mar 28 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 Austin?

Sow tomatoes indoors Jan 26 – Feb 9 and peppers Jan 19 – Feb 2. We work back from a balanced (30%-risk) transplant date using CSU's transplant ages.

When should I plant tomatoes outside in Austin?

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 Mar 6 here, but the average nightly low at Austin-Camp Mabry isn't above 52°F until Mar 16. With both rules, the dates are about Mar 16 at the earliest, Mar 16 as a balanced choice, or Mar 28 to be safe.

What can I plant in Austin in the fall?

Based on UNL Extension's count-back from the typical first frost (Dec 3), the deadlines are: peas by Sep 15; lettuce (leaf) by Sep 20; carrots by Sep 10; beans (snap) by Sep 6; summer squash by Sep 16; broccoli by Sep 15 (transplants); cabbage by Aug 26 (transplants); kohlrabi by Sep 30; green onions by Sep 20; radishes by Oct 20; spinach by Oct 10; turnips by Sep 30; beets by Sep 20; swiss chard by Sep 20; cucumbers by Sep 11.

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