.JPG){kind=link}
In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Start indoors
No indoor sowing due this week.
Ready to pick
TomatoesPeppersEggplantCucumbersZucchiniPumpkinsWatermelonsSweet cornGreen beansRadishesSwiss chardBasil
Coming up in the next 4 weeks
No new outdoor sowings start in the next four weeks.
Austin planting calendar
Bars show when each crop can go in and when a planting from that window is ready. The blue band is the frost season, from the average first autumn frost to the average last spring frost. Hover or tap a crop for details.
Sow indoorsSow or plant outdoorsHarvestFrost seasonToday
Swipe sideways to see the whole year →
Dates by crop
| Crop | Sow indoors | Sow / plant outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 9 – Feb 13, May 31 – Jul 5 | Mar 6 – May 19, Jul 26 – Sep 18 plant out | May 11 – Aug 31, Sep 13 – Dec 2 |
| Pepper | Jan 11 – Feb 15, Apr 30 – Jun 4 | Mar 22 – Jun 10, Jul 9 – Sep 15 plant out | May 22 – Dec 2 |
| Eggplant (aubergine) | Jan 19 – Feb 23, May 12 – Jun 16 | Mar 30 – May 22, Jul 21 – Sep 11 plant out | May 31 – Aug 27, Sep 15 – Dec 2 |
| Cucumber | Feb 14 – Mar 13 | Mar 14 – Jun 3, Aug 3 – Sep 29 sow | May 4 – Aug 22, Sep 11 – Dec 2 |
| Zucchini (courgette) | Feb 6 – Mar 5 | Mar 6 – Jun 22, Jul 23 – Oct 2 sow | Apr 27 – Dec 2 |
| Pumpkin and winter squash | Feb 6 – Mar 5 | Mar 6 – May 30, Jun 24 – Aug 31 sow | Jun 1 – Dec 2 |
| Watermelon | Mar 2 – Mar 29 | Mar 30 – Sep 10 sow | Jun 3 – Dec 2 |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 27 – Jun 8, Jul 6 – Sep 14 sow | May 15 – Aug 23, Aug 31 – Dec 2 |
| Green beans | – | Mar 6 – May 22, Aug 12 – Sep 29 sow | May 1 – Aug 3, Sep 20 – Dec 2 |
| Peas | – | Jan 9 – Feb 21 sow | Mar 25 – May 14 |
| Lettuce | Dec 19 – Jan 16 | Jan 23 – Mar 15, Sep 30 – Oct 25 sow | Mar 20 – May 20, Nov 7 – Dec 13 |
| Spinach | – | Jan 9 – Mar 10, Oct 21 – Nov 7 sow | Nov 30 – Jan 2, Mar 8 – May 12 |
| Kale | Aug 13 – Sep 17 | Sep 24 – Apr 14 sow | Nov 8 – Aug 5 |
| Cabbage | Dec 5 – Jan 9, Aug 6 – Sep 6 | Jan 23 – Mar 16, Sep 24 – Oct 11 plant out | Apr 8 – Jun 8, Nov 22 – Dec 24 |
| Broccoli | Dec 12 – Jan 16, Aug 12 – Sep 11 | Jan 30 – Mar 23, Sep 30 – Oct 16 plant out | Apr 4 – Jun 7, Nov 20 – Dec 17 |
| Carrots | – | Jan 30 – Apr 26, Sep 24 – Oct 26 sow | Nov 17 – Jan 17, Apr 8 – Aug 11 |
| Beets (beetroot) | – | Jan 30 – May 3, Sep 24 – Oct 22 sow | Apr 1 – Jul 27, Nov 8 – Dec 24 |
| Radishes | – | Jan 16 – Mar 30, Oct 11 – Nov 13 sow | Feb 23 – May 3, Nov 1 – Dec 17 |
| Onions | Nov 14 – Dec 19 | Jan 23 – Apr 30 plant out | Apr 26 – Aug 9 |
| Garlic | Garlic needs about six weeks below 10 °C to form bulbs; winters here are too mild for most varieties. | ||
| Potatoes | – | Feb 6 – Apr 21 sow | Apr 30 – Aug 10 |
| Swiss chard | – | Feb 6 – May 5, Sep 9 – Oct 26 sow | Apr 1 – Oct 4, Oct 20 – Dec 24 |
| Basil | Feb 8 – Mar 8 | Mar 22 – Oct 16 plant out | Apr 20 – Dec 2 |
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | Jan 30 – Mar 22, Oct 11 – Nov 3 sow | Mar 15 – May 18, Nov 11 – Dec 17 |
| Parsley | Dec 5 – Jan 9 | Jan 30 – Apr 23, Sep 24 – Oct 15 sow | Nov 22 – Jan 2, Apr 12 – Oct 6 |
Dates are for a typical year and the middle of the window is the safest. Sow a little at a time across a window rather than all at once. Cold snaps, heat waves, frost pockets and city warmth all shift the real dates; watch the forecast.
Frost dates in Austin
- Average last spring frost
- February 20
- Late frost (1 year in 10)
- March 14
- Average first autumn frost
- December 3
- Early frost (1 year in 10)
- November 15
- Frost-free growing season
- 285 days
“Average” is the date with an even chance of a later (spring) or earlier (autumn) frost: a night at or below 0 °C (32 °F) at screen height. Tender crops go out a week or two after the spring date, which brings the risk down to about one year in ten.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Austin-Camp Mabry (6 km from the city centre).
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 9a from station records
- Average coldest winter night
- -4°C24°F
- Warmest month
- August, highs 36°C97°F
- Coldest month
- January, lows 5°C41°F
- Crops with an outdoor window
- 24 of 25
The zone follows the USDA scheme: bands of the average lowest temperature of the year, 10 °F wide, split into a and b halves. Worked out from the coldest night of each year 1991–2020 at the NOAA station. It tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow.
Temperature and rain by month
Average highAverage lowRainFreezing point
| Month | High | Low | Mean | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17°C62°F | 5°C41°F | 11°C52°F | 54 mm2.1 in |
| February | 19°C66°F | 7°C45°F | 13°C56°F | 58 mm2.3 in |
| March | 23°C73°F | 11°C51°F | 17°C62°F | 49 mm1.9 in |
| April | 27°C80°F | 14°C58°F | 21°C69°F | 59 mm2.3 in |
| May | 30°C87°F | 19°C66°F | 25°C76°F | 115 mm4.5 in |
| June | 34°C93°F | 22°C72°F | 28°C83°F | 109 mm4.3 in |
| July | 36°C96°F | 24°C75°F | 30°C85°F | 54 mm2.1 in |
| August | 36°C97°F | 24°C75°F | 30°C86°F | 59 mm2.3 in |
| September | 33°C91°F | 21°C69°F | 27°C80°F | 92 mm3.6 in |
| October | 28°C83°F | 16°C60°F | 22°C71°F | 89 mm3.5 in |
| November | 22°C71°F | 10°C49°F | 16°C60°F | 72 mm2.8 in |
| December | 17°C63°F | 6°C42°F | 12°C53°F | 59 mm2.3 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).