In Dallas, the average last spring frost is Mar 9 and the average first fall frost is Nov 22, a growing season of about 258 days (zone 8b). Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 26 and move them outside from Mar 23. Plant garlic around Oct 11.
Dallas at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Mar 9 (average)
- First fall frost
- Nov 22 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 258 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Dallas Love Fld, TX; Joe Pool Lake, TX; and Arlington Six Flags, 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 Dallas this month (January)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Jan 26
- Start peppers indoors: Jan 26
- Start eggplant indoors: Jan 26
- Start lettuce indoors: Jan 26
Coming up in early February: start kale indoors (Feb 2), start broccoli indoors (Feb 2), start cabbage indoors (Feb 2) and start basil indoors (Feb 9).
What to plant in Dallas this month (February)
- Start kale indoors: Feb 2
- Start broccoli indoors: Feb 2
- Start cabbage indoors: Feb 2
- Start basil indoors: Feb 9
- Direct sow spinach: Feb 16
- Direct sow peas: Feb 16
- Direct sow radishes: Feb 16
- Transplant lettuce: Feb 23
- Direct sow carrots: Feb 23
- Start cucumbers indoors: Feb 23
- Start zucchini indoors: Feb 23
- Start winter squash indoors: Feb 23
Coming up in early March: direct sow beets (Mar 2), transplant kale (Mar 2), transplant broccoli (Mar 2), transplant cabbage (Mar 2), direct sow potatoes (Mar 2) and transplant onions (Mar 9).
What to plant in Dallas this month (March)
- Direct sow beets: Mar 2
- Transplant kale: Mar 2
- Transplant broccoli: Mar 2
- Transplant cabbage: Mar 2
- Direct sow potatoes: Mar 2
- Transplant onions: Mar 9
- Transplant cucumbers: Mar 16
- Transplant zucchini: Mar 16
- Transplant winter squash: Mar 16
- Direct sow beans: Mar 16
- Transplant tomatoes: Mar 23
- Transplant peppers: Mar 23
- Transplant eggplant: Mar 23
- Transplant basil: Mar 23
What to plant in Dallas this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Dallas in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 13.
What to plant in Dallas this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Dallas in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 13.
What to plant in Dallas this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Dallas in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 13.
What to plant in Dallas this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Dallas in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 13.
What to plant in Dallas this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Dallas in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 13.
What to plant in Dallas this month (September)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Sep 13
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Sep 13
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Sep 27
Coming up in early October: sow spinach for a fall harvest (Oct 4) and plant garlic (Oct 11).
What to plant in Dallas this month (October)
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Oct 4
- Plant garlic: Oct 11
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 18
What to plant in Dallas this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Dallas in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Dec 29.
What to plant in Dallas this month (December)
- Start onions indoors: Dec 29
Dallas planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 26 | Transplant Mar 23 | From Jun 9 |
| Peppers | Jan 26 | Transplant Mar 23 | From Jun 3 |
| Eggplant | Jan 26 | Transplant Mar 23 | From Jun 6 |
| Basil | Feb 9 | Transplant Mar 23 | From May 4 |
| Onions (from seed) | Dec 29 | Transplant Mar 9 | From Jun 17 |
| Lettuce | Jan 26 | Transplant Feb 23Fall: direct sow Sep 27 | From Apr 4Fall: from Nov 6 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Feb 16Fall: direct sow Oct 4 | From Mar 28Fall: from Nov 13 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Feb 16Fall: direct sow Sep 13 | From Apr 17Fall: from Nov 12 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Feb 16Fall: direct sow Oct 18 | From Mar 13Fall: from Nov 12 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Feb 23 | From May 4 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Mar 2 | From Apr 26 |
| Kale | Feb 2 | Transplant Mar 2Fall: direct sow Sep 13 | From Apr 26Fall: from Nov 7 |
| Broccoli | Feb 2 | Transplant Mar 2 | From May 6 |
| Cabbage | Feb 2 | Transplant Mar 2 | From May 11 |
| Cucumbers | Feb 23 | Transplant Mar 16 | From May 10 |
| Zucchini | Feb 23 | Transplant Mar 16 | From May 5 |
| Winter squash | Feb 23 | Transplant Mar 16 | From Jun 14 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Mar 16 | From May 10 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 2 | From May 21 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Oct 11 | Around Jun 1 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Dallas'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 Dallas
GrowSmart schedules garlic in Dallas around Oct 11, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Nov 22, with harvest around Jun 1.
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 Dallas:
- Peas: sow Sep 13, ready from about Nov 12
- Kale: sow Sep 13, ready from about Nov 7
- Lettuce: sow Sep 27, ready from about Nov 6
- Spinach: sow Oct 4, ready from about Nov 13
- Radishes: sow Oct 18, ready from about Nov 12
Nearby planting calendars
Dallas planting questions
When is the last frost in Dallas?
The average last spring frost in Dallas is Mar 9, and the average first fall frost is Nov 22, 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 Dallas?
Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 26, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Mar 23, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Dallas in fall?
Garlic goes in around Oct 11. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Sep 13, lettuce around Sep 27, spinach around Oct 4 and radishes around Oct 18.