North Texas Planting Calendar - Total Guide

North Texas Planting Calendar

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:

  1. Leafy Greens
  2. Vegetables and roots
  3. Flowers
  4. 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:

Leafy Greens Planting Calendar for North Texas
Leafy Greens Planting Calendar for 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.

Vegetables & Roots Planting Calendar for North Texas
Vegetables & Roots Planting Calendar for North Texas

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.

If you wish you can check my article: Flowering plants that you can grow indoors in North Texas.

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.

Shrubs

I have added a few new columns for the shrubs like if they are evergreen or not, flowering or not etc.

Plant Name Best Planting Time Height (Max) Flowering Evergreen
Texas Sage March 15 - May 15 4-6 feet Yes Yes
Turk's Cap April 1 - June 30 2-4 feet Yes No
Indian Hawthorn October 15 - November 30 3-6 feet Yes Yes
Yaupon Holly September 1 - October 31 10-20 feet No Yes
Esperanza April 15 - June 15 4-6 feet Yes No
American Beautyberry February 15 - April 15 3-6 feet Yes No
Abelia March 1 - May 1 3-6 feet Yes Yes
Winter Jasmine November 15 - January 15 3-4 feet Yes No
Southern Wax Myrtle February 1 - March 30 10-20 feet No Yes
Coralberry March 1 - April 30 2-4 feet No No

Berries to plant in North Texas

Berry Name Best Planting Time Sunlight Requirements Soil Type
Strawberry Early Spring or Fall Full Sun Slightly Acidic, Well-drained
Blackberry Early Spring Full Sun to Partial Shade Loamy, Well-drained
Raspberry Early Spring Full Sun Slightly Acidic, Well-drained
Blueberry Late Winter to Early Spring Full Sun Acidic, Sandy
Goji Berry Spring Full Sun Well-drained, Tolerates Poor Soil

Yes, you can grow the above-mentioned berries easily in North Texas.

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.

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