In San Antonio, the average last spring frost is Feb 22 and the average first fall frost is Dec 2, a growing season of about 283 days (zone 9a). Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 11 and move them outside from Mar 8. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Sep 23, lettuce around Oct 7, spinach around Oct 14 and radishes around Oct 28.
San Antonio at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Feb 22 (average)
- First fall frost
- Dec 2 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 283 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- San Antonio Incarnate Word, TX; San Antonio Kelly AFB, TX; and San Antonio Stinson AP, 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 San Antonio this month (January)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Jan 11
- Start peppers indoors: Jan 11
- Start eggplant indoors: Jan 11
- Start lettuce indoors: Jan 11
- Start kale indoors: Jan 18
- Start broccoli indoors: Jan 18
- Start cabbage indoors: Jan 18
- Start basil indoors: Jan 25
Coming up in early February: direct sow spinach (Feb 1), direct sow peas (Feb 1), direct sow radishes (Feb 1), transplant lettuce (Feb 8), direct sow carrots (Feb 8), start cucumbers indoors (Feb 8), start zucchini indoors (Feb 8) and start winter squash indoors (Feb 8).
What to plant in San Antonio this month (February)
- Direct sow spinach: Feb 1
- Direct sow peas: Feb 1
- Direct sow radishes: Feb 1
- Transplant lettuce: Feb 8
- Direct sow carrots: Feb 8
- Start cucumbers indoors: Feb 8
- Start zucchini indoors: Feb 8
- Start winter squash indoors: Feb 8
- Direct sow beets: Feb 15
- Transplant kale: Feb 15
- Transplant broccoli: Feb 15
- Transplant cabbage: Feb 15
- Direct sow potatoes: Feb 15
- Transplant onions: Feb 22
Coming up in early March: transplant cucumbers (Mar 1), transplant zucchini (Mar 1), transplant winter squash (Mar 1), direct sow beans (Mar 1), transplant tomatoes (Mar 8), transplant peppers (Mar 8), transplant eggplant (Mar 8) and transplant basil (Mar 8).
What to plant in San Antonio this month (March)
- Transplant cucumbers: Mar 1
- Transplant zucchini: Mar 1
- Transplant winter squash: Mar 1
- Direct sow beans: Mar 1
- Transplant tomatoes: Mar 8
- Transplant peppers: Mar 8
- Transplant eggplant: Mar 8
- Transplant basil: Mar 8
What to plant in San Antonio this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Antonio in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 23.
What to plant in San Antonio this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Antonio in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 23.
What to plant in San Antonio this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Antonio in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 23.
What to plant in San Antonio this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Antonio in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 23.
What to plant in San Antonio this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Antonio in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 23.
What to plant in San Antonio this month (September)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Sep 23
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Sep 23
Coming up in early October: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Oct 7) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Oct 14).
What to plant in San Antonio this month (October)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Oct 7
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Oct 14
- Plant garlic: Oct 21
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 28
What to plant in San Antonio this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Antonio in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Dec 14.
What to plant in San Antonio this month (December)
- Start onions indoors: Dec 14
Coming up in early January: start tomatoes indoors (Jan 11), start peppers indoors (Jan 11), start eggplant indoors (Jan 11) and start lettuce indoors (Jan 11).
San Antonio planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 11 | Transplant Mar 8 | From May 25 |
| Peppers | Jan 11 | Transplant Mar 8 | From May 19 |
| Eggplant | Jan 11 | Transplant Mar 8 | From May 22 |
| Basil | Jan 25 | Transplant Mar 8 | From Apr 19 |
| Onions (from seed) | Dec 14 | Transplant Feb 22 | From Jun 2 |
| Lettuce | Jan 11 | Transplant Feb 8Fall: direct sow Oct 7 | From Mar 20Fall: from Nov 16 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Feb 1Fall: direct sow Oct 14 | From Mar 13Fall: from Nov 23 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Feb 1Fall: direct sow Sep 23 | From Apr 2Fall: from Nov 22 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Feb 1Fall: direct sow Oct 28 | From Feb 26Fall: from Nov 22 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Feb 8 | From Apr 19 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Feb 15 | From Apr 11 |
| Kale | Jan 18 | Transplant Feb 15Fall: direct sow Sep 23 | From Apr 11Fall: from Nov 17 |
| Broccoli | Jan 18 | Transplant Feb 15 | From Apr 21 |
| Cabbage | Jan 18 | Transplant Feb 15 | From Apr 26 |
| Cucumbers | Feb 8 | Transplant Mar 1 | From Apr 25 |
| Zucchini | Feb 8 | Transplant Mar 1 | From Apr 20 |
| Winter squash | Feb 8 | Transplant Mar 1 | From May 30 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Mar 1 | From Apr 25 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Feb 15 | From May 6 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Oct 21 | Around May 17 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from San Antonio'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 San Antonio
GrowSmart schedules garlic in San Antonio around Oct 21, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Dec 2, with harvest around May 17.
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 San Antonio:
- Peas: sow Sep 23, ready from about Nov 22
- Kale: sow Sep 23, ready from about Nov 17
- Lettuce: sow Oct 7, ready from about Nov 16
- Spinach: sow Oct 14, ready from about Nov 23
- Radishes: sow Oct 28, ready from about Nov 22
Nearby planting calendars
San Antonio planting questions
When is the last frost in San Antonio?
The average last spring frost in San Antonio is Feb 22, and the average first fall frost is Dec 2, 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 San Antonio?
Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 11, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Mar 8, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in San Antonio in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in San Antonio. Sow peas and kale around Sep 23, lettuce around Oct 7, spinach around Oct 14 and radishes around Oct 28, and plant garlic around Oct 21.