Gardening in North Texas is unique compared to other parts of Texas. My grandpa (Born in 1939) grew up here and spent a lifetime learning the ins and outs of local gardening. Drawing from his wealth of knowledge, I’ve put together a comprehensive Planting Calendar for North Texas. I can confidently say that if you search online, you won’t find a planting calendar that covers such a wide range of plants in such an organized and thorough way. This is a complete year-round planting guide for North Texas.
To make this planting calendar organized, I have separated the plants into 4 categories:
- Leafy Greens
- Vegetables and roots
- Flowers
- Herbs
I could insert more data in the table, but it will be difficult for us to view on a webpage. Thus I have created a full planting guide with planting seasons and date range in a PDF form. As it took me almost 1 month to organize my experiences all together in an eBook, I am selling it online. If you wish you can check it out:
North Texas Planting Guide eBook (Buy Now)( I have set the price to only 5$ so that it is accessible for all. During Purchase, you can simply add any fair price you like to motivate me and my grandpa to create more books on North Texas Gardening! If you do not like the book, I will simply refund the amount you paid. Your feedback is important to me)
Now back to the main article,
Considering the climate of North Texas we have built this planting calendar. My grandpa says, "You have to smell and feel the climate to be an expert gardener".
If you are looking for a summer planting calendar, you can pick the plants that have a growing season between June and mid-September. For spring, you can pick March to May.
If you are an adventurous gardener then you can go check my Early fall Planting calendar for North Texas (What to plant in October).
Let's start with Leafy Greens!
Leafy Greens Planting Calendar for North Texas
| Plant Name | Sowing Method | Growing Season (Direct Sowing) | Growing Season (Transplanting) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spinach | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | |
| Kale | Both | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | Jan 15 - Feb 15 |
| Lettuce | Both | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | Jan 15 - Feb 15 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Apr 1, Sept 1 - Oct 15 | |
| Arugula | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | |
| Collard Greens | Both | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | Jan 15 - Feb 15 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | |
| Endive | Both | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | Jan 15 - Feb 15 |
| Romaine Lettuce | Both | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | Jan 15 - Feb 15 |
| Bok Choy | Both | Feb 15 - Apr 1, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | Jan 15 - Feb 15 |
| Cabbage | Transplanting | Jan 15 - Feb 15 | |
| Radicchio | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | |
| Watercress | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | |
| Escarole | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 | |
| Beet Greens | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Mar 15, Sept 1 - Nov 1 |
Here is the visual planting calendar for Leafy Greens - North Texas:
In this list, I have shown the growing season for both direct sowing and transplanting and you might be wondering why transplanting dates are earlier than direct sowing dates:
I am considering that you are growing the saplings from the seeds indoors. In this way, saplings will have time to grow in a controlled environment. If you are not an expert in gardening pick the direct seed-sowing method and follow the dates mentioned in my list.
Bonus tip: For direct sowing, you can see that within a few days, the saplings will be crowded. You need to thin them. Crowded plants compete for nutrients and may not thrive.
Vegetables & Roots Planting Calendar for North Texas
| Plant Name | Sowing Method | Growing Season | Maturity Time (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrots | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Apr 1, Sept 1 - Oct 15 | 70-80 |
| Beets | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Apr 1, Sept 1 - Oct 15 | 50-60 |
| Radishes | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Apr 1, Sept 1 - Oct 15 | 25-35 |
| Onions | Both | Transplant: Jan 15 - Feb 15 | Direct: Feb 15 - Mar 1 | 100-120 |
| Garlic | Direct Sowing | Oct 1 - Nov 1 | 180-210 |
| Potatoes | Both | Transplant: Jan 15 - Feb 15 | Direct: Feb 15 - Mar 1 | 90-110 |
| Turnips | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Apr 1, Sept 1 - Oct 15 | 50-60 |
| Parsnips | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Apr 1 | 110-120 |
| Sweet Potatoes | Transplanting | Apr 1 - May 1 | 100-120 |
| Cabbage | Transplanting | Jan 15 - Feb 15 | 90-100 |
| Cauliflower | Transplanting | Jan 15 - Feb 15 | 80-100 |
| Broccoli | Transplanting | Jan 15 - Feb 15 | 80-100 |
| Peas | Direct Sowing | Feb 1 - Mar 15 | 60-70 |
| Kohlrabi | Both | Transplant: Jan 15 - Feb 15 | Direct: Feb 15 - Mar 15 | 55-65 |
| Lettuce | Both | Transplant: Jan 15 - Feb 15 | Direct: Feb 15 - Apr 1 | 45-55 |
| Spinach | Both | Transplant: Jan 15 - Feb 15 | Direct: Feb 15 - Mar 15 | 40-50 |
| Swiss Chard | Both | Transplant: Jan 15 - Feb 15 | Direct: Feb 15 - Apr 1 | 50-60 |
| Collard Greens | Both | Transplant: Jan 15 - Feb 15 | Direct: Feb 15 - Apr 1 | 55-65 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct Sowing | Feb 15 - Apr 1, Sept 1 - Oct 15 | 40-50 |
If you want to enhance the health and productivity of your garden, you should consider companion planting. It will help to repel pests, improve soil nutrients, and even boost plant growth. For example: Carrots grow well with onions and garlic, Peas add nitrogen to the soil.
In this list, I did not remove a few leafy greens as you can consider them as veggies as well.
You can see in my list, for a few specific veggies I have added two date ranges as you can grow them twice in a year.
Flower Planting Calendar for North Texas
| Flower Name | Planting Time | Flowering Season | Difficulty Level | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflowers | Mar 15 - May 15 | Jun 1 - Aug 31 | Easy | Annual |
| Zinnias | Mar 15 - May 15 | Jun 1 - Frost | Easy | Annual |
| Marigolds | Feb 15 - Apr 15 | May 1 - Frost | Easy | Annual |
| Cosmos | Mar 15 - May 15 | Jun 1 - Frost | Easy | Annual |
| Petunias | Feb 15 - Apr 15 | Apr 1 - Frost | Moderate | Annual |
| Snapdragons | Jan 15 - Feb 15 | Mar 1 - May 15 | Moderate | Perennial (often treated as annual) |
| Lavender | Feb 15 - Apr 15 | May 1 - Jul 31 | Moderate | Perennial |
| Black-eyed Susans | Mar 15 - May 15 | Jun 1 - Aug 31 | Easy | Perennial |
| Coreopsis | Mar 15 - May 15 | Jun 1 - Aug 31 | Easy | Perennial |
| Geraniums | Feb 15 - Apr 15 | May 1 - Frost | Moderate | Perennial (often treated as annual) |
| Daylilies | Feb 15 - Mar 15 | Jun 1 - Aug 31 | Easy | Perennial |
| Peonies | Fall (Oct 1 - Nov 30) | May 1 - Jun 30 | Moderate | Perennial |
| Bluebonnet | Fall (Mid Oct - Mid Nov) | March 15 - May 10 | Moderate | Annual |
| Rudbeckia | Mar 15 - May 15 | Jun 1 - Aug 31 | Moderate | Perennial |
| Asters | Feb 15 - Apr 15 | Sep 1 - Oct 31 | Moderate | Perennial |
| Hollyhocks | Mar 15 - May 15 | Jun 1 - Aug 31 | Moderate | Biennial |
| Tulips | Nov 1 - Dec 15 | Mar 1 - Apr 15 | Moderate | Perennial (often treated as annual) |
| Daffodils | Nov 1 - Dec 15 | Feb 1 - Mar 15 | Easy | Perennial |
For flowering plants, I have added the flowering season and type of the plant (annual or perennial).
In North Texas, people start to sow the flowering seeds in early February. If you're itching to get those garden gloves on, you're in luck! February and March are the prime months to plant early-blooming beauties like Snapdragons and Petunias.
My personal favorites on the list are zinnias, lavender, sunflowers, and peonies.
I love the sunflower when I visit my grandpa's place. But in South Florida due to humidity, I face Powdery mildew on Sunflower Leaves.
Herb Planting Calendar for North Texas
| Herb Name | Planting Time | Harvesting Time | Difficulty Level | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Apr 1 - Jun 1 | Jun 15 - Frost | Easy | Annual |
| Thyme | Mar 15 - Apr 15 | May 1 - Frost | Easy | Perennial |
| Rosemary | Mar 15 - May 15 | May 15 - Frost | Moderate | Perennial |
| Cilantro | Mar 1 - May 15 | May 1 - Jun 15 | Easy | Annual |
| Parsley | Feb 15 - Apr 15 | May 1 - Frost | Moderate | Biennial |
| Sage | Mar 15 - May 15 | May 15 - Frost | Moderate | Perennial |
| Dill | Mar 1 - May 15 | May 1 - Jul 15 | Easy | Annual |
| Mint | Mar 15 - Apr 15 | May 1 - Frost | Easy | Perennial |
| Oregano | Mar 15 - Apr 15 | May 1 - Frost | Easy | Perennial |
| Chives | Mar 15 - Apr 15 | May 1 - Frost | Easy | Perennial |
| Fennel | Mar 1 - May 15 | May 1 - Jul 15 | Moderate | Perennial |
| Tarragon | Mar 15 - Apr 15 | May 15 - Frost | Moderate | Perennial |
| Lavender | Feb 15 - Apr 15 | May 1 - Jul 31 | Moderate | Perennial |
| Sweet Bay | Mar 15 - May 15 | Jun 1 - Frost | Moderate | Perennial |
If you do not like herbs that much then you might not be interested in this list. But give it a try. Their maintenance is easiest and most of those are perennial (that's a plus point).
Yes, Lavender is a flowering plant and herb at the same time. If you wish you can plant the herbs in a pot as well.
It takes a lot of effort and time to generate these lists and visual data. If possible subscribe to this site. It's Free! But it will motivate me to bring more content like this.
