In Austin, the average last spring frost is Mar 10 and the average first fall frost is Nov 20, a growing season of about 255 days (zone 9a). Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 27 and move them outside from Mar 24. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Sep 11, lettuce around Sep 25, spinach around Oct 2 and radishes around Oct 16.
Austin at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Mar 10 (average)
- First fall frost
- Nov 20 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 255 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Austin 6S, TX; Austin-Camp Mabry, TX; and Austin Great Hills, TX, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Austin this month (January)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Jan 27
- Start peppers indoors: Jan 27
- Start eggplant indoors: Jan 27
- Start lettuce indoors: Jan 27
Coming up in early February: start kale indoors (Feb 3), start broccoli indoors (Feb 3), start cabbage indoors (Feb 3) and start basil indoors (Feb 10).
What to plant in Austin this month (February)
- Start kale indoors: Feb 3
- Start broccoli indoors: Feb 3
- Start cabbage indoors: Feb 3
- Start basil indoors: Feb 10
- Direct sow spinach: Feb 17
- Direct sow peas: Feb 17
- Direct sow radishes: Feb 17
- Transplant lettuce: Feb 24
- Direct sow carrots: Feb 24
- Start cucumbers indoors: Feb 24
- Start zucchini indoors: Feb 24
- Start winter squash indoors: Feb 24
Coming up in early March: direct sow beets (Mar 3), transplant kale (Mar 3), transplant broccoli (Mar 3), transplant cabbage (Mar 3), direct sow potatoes (Mar 3) and transplant onions (Mar 10).
What to plant in Austin this month (March)
- Direct sow beets: Mar 3
- Transplant kale: Mar 3
- Transplant broccoli: Mar 3
- Transplant cabbage: Mar 3
- Direct sow potatoes: Mar 3
- Transplant onions: Mar 10
- Transplant cucumbers: Mar 17
- Transplant zucchini: Mar 17
- Transplant winter squash: Mar 17
- Direct sow beans: Mar 17
- Transplant tomatoes: Mar 24
- Transplant peppers: Mar 24
- Transplant eggplant: Mar 24
- Transplant basil: Mar 24
What to plant in Austin this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Austin in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 11.
What to plant in Austin this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Austin in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 11.
What to plant in Austin this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Austin in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 11.
What to plant in Austin this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Austin in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 11.
What to plant in Austin this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Austin in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 11.
What to plant in Austin this month (September)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Sep 11
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Sep 11
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Sep 25
Coming up in early October: sow spinach for a fall harvest (Oct 2) and plant garlic (Oct 9).
What to plant in Austin this month (October)
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Oct 2
- Plant garlic: Oct 9
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 16
What to plant in Austin this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Austin in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Dec 30.
What to plant in Austin this month (December)
- Start onions indoors: Dec 30
Austin planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 27 | Transplant Mar 24 | From Jun 10 |
| Peppers | Jan 27 | Transplant Mar 24 | From Jun 4 |
| Eggplant | Jan 27 | Transplant Mar 24 | From Jun 7 |
| Basil | Feb 10 | Transplant Mar 24 | From May 5 |
| Onions (from seed) | Dec 30 | Transplant Mar 10 | From Jun 18 |
| Lettuce | Jan 27 | Transplant Feb 24Fall: direct sow Sep 25 | From Apr 5Fall: from Nov 4 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Feb 17Fall: direct sow Oct 2 | From Mar 29Fall: from Nov 11 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Feb 17Fall: direct sow Sep 11 | From Apr 18Fall: from Nov 10 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Feb 17Fall: direct sow Oct 16 | From Mar 14Fall: from Nov 10 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Feb 24 | From May 5 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Mar 3 | From Apr 27 |
| Kale | Feb 3 | Transplant Mar 3Fall: direct sow Sep 11 | From Apr 27Fall: from Nov 5 |
| Broccoli | Feb 3 | Transplant Mar 3 | From May 7 |
| Cabbage | Feb 3 | Transplant Mar 3 | From May 12 |
| Cucumbers | Feb 24 | Transplant Mar 17 | From May 11 |
| Zucchini | Feb 24 | Transplant Mar 17 | From May 6 |
| Winter squash | Feb 24 | Transplant Mar 17 | From Jun 15 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Mar 17 | From May 11 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 3 | From May 22 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Oct 9 | Around Jun 2 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Austin's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready.
Fall planting in Austin
GrowSmart schedules garlic in Austin around Oct 9, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Nov 20, with harvest around Jun 2.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Austin:
- Peas: sow Sep 11, ready from about Nov 10
- Kale: sow Sep 11, ready from about Nov 5
- Lettuce: sow Sep 25, ready from about Nov 4
- Spinach: sow Oct 2, ready from about Nov 11
- Radishes: sow Oct 16, ready from about Nov 10
Nearby planting calendars
Austin planting questions
When is the last frost in Austin?
The average last spring frost in Austin is Mar 10, and the average first fall frost is Nov 20, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Austin?
Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 27, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Mar 24, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Austin in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in Austin. Sow peas and kale around Sep 11, lettuce around Sep 25, spinach around Oct 2 and radishes around Oct 16, and plant garlic around Oct 9.