Central Texas, USDA Zone 8b/9a

What to plant in Austin, by month.

Austin's growing year has two springs (real spring and fall) and one brutal summer. This is the planting calendar we hand to every client.

January

Plant. Onions, garlic, asparagus crowns, fruit trees, English peas, kale, spinach, lettuce

Bare-root fruit tree window. Last shot before heat picks up.

Plant. Potatoes, carrots, beets, broccoli, cabbage, chard, snap peas

Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors mid-month.

Plant. Tomatoes (transplant), peppers, beans, cucumbers, squash, basil, corn

The big spring push. Plant by St. Patrick's Day for best yields.

Plant. Okra, sweet potatoes, southern peas, melons, eggplant, peppers

Heat-lovers go in. Mulch deeply before May.

Plant. Okra, southern peas, sweet potato slips, basil, peppers

Finish all spring planting. Harvest tomatoes daily.

Plant. Okra, southern peas, malabar spinach, basil

Maintain, shade-cloth tomatoes, harvest non-stop.

Plant. Start fall tomato and pepper transplants indoors. Plant pumpkins for Halloween.

Hardest month. Water deeply, mulch heavier.

Plant. Transplant fall tomatoes and peppers, plant bush beans, cucumbers, squash

Fall garden begins. Shade cloth still on.

Plant. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, carrots, beets, chard, cilantro, dill

Best planting month of the year. Cooler nights save everything.

Plant. Garlic, onions, leafy greens, root crops, peas, strawberries

Plant strawberries now for spring harvest.

Plant. Garlic, onions, leafy greens, fava beans, snap peas, fruit trees (bare-root)

Cover crops on empty beds. Cold frames go up.

Plant. Fruit trees, garlic, leafy greens, root crops under cover

Quietest month. Plan next year. Sharpen tools.

Sun exposure, microclimate, and what you like to cook all change the plan.