Waco Garden Calendar: April

 

What to plant in April:  

April is a BIG month for planting.   There is a LOT of things that can be planted this month, and not much left to plant in your veggie garden by May. 

I originally got this info from a book called Month-to-Month Gardening in Texas, but have now updated it with the Aggie Spring Planting Guide, which I assume is updated for more current seasonal weather conditions due to climate change.   A few of the pics no longer match but I'm a bit lazy to change it.  

This is the last month this Spring to plant the items in bold.  Those with "plant by" dates before the end of the month are noted.  The rest you have time to plant later if you want to.

DIRECT SEED

Arugula

Beans, Lima (before April 15)

Beans, Bush (before April 15)

Beans, Snap and Liana - (before April 15*/30**)

Cantaloupe***

Corn

Cucumber

Eggplant***

Lettuce, Leaf***

Peas, southern

Sweet Potato (slips)

Pumpkin (before April 20)

Radish 

Soybean

Squash (Summer/Yellow, Winter, Patti Pan, Zucchini) 

Turnip (before April 15)

Watermelon***  

TRANSPLANT

Basil

Cantaloupe

Cucumber

Eggplant

Okra (after April 15)

Pepper (sweet and hot) 

Tomatoes (before April 10)

Watermelon

*According to Aggie Guide

**According to The Central Texas Community Gardening Guide

***The Central Texas Community Gardening Guide and Aggie Guide disagree.  See plant below for details:

• Cantaloupe: Cnt. TX Guide does not suggest direct planting these by seed in Spring, but the Aggie Guide says you can.
• Eggplant:  : Cnt. TX Guide does not suggest direct planting these by seed at any time, but the Aggie Guide says you can plant this month.
• Lettuce:   Cnt. TX Guide says you can plant leaf lettuce (not head) this month, but Aggie guide says lettuce should be planted by March 15 (but does not specify leaf or head)
• Watermelon: Cnt. TX Guide does not suggest direct planting these by seed in Spring, but the Aggie Guide says you can.

I found the photos for my mosaic on Flickr, and the photographers were nice enough to offer up for use through Creative Commons (click on the links to see the photos larger).  Yes, the Sountern Peas (ie cowpeas) in that picture are blighted (that was just a hard one to find, so I took what I could get.) 

PHOTO CREDITS:  
1. Cantaloupes, 2. Collards*, 3. Corn, 4. Cucumber, 5. Cushaw (and Pumpkins) 6. Eggplant, 7. Melons (honeydew), 8. Lima Beans, 9. Luffa, 10. Malabar Spinach, 11. Okra, 12. Peppers, 13. Pumpkin., 14. Snapbeans (19), 15. Southern Peas, 16. Summer Squash, 17. Sweet Potatoes, 18. Swiss Chard*, 19. Tomato 20. Watermelon

*Both Aggie Guide and Cnt. TX Guide suggests an earlier plant by date, so these are no longer listed to plant this month.  I think the original was from a book on gardening in Texas, so it had less specific dates on some of these. It's not worth editing the picture over. 

Waco Garden Calendar: March

Below you will find a list suggested plant dates for March!

Instructions on seed packets will often say "plant after danger of frost." Well, ok, when is that? And how cold does it have to get for that frost to kill my plants?

Well, I looked it up on the Farmers Almanac and The National Garden Association and found that temps below 36°F are considered a danger zone, because colder temps higher up can cause frost to fall on plants below.   29°F to 32°F is considered a light freeze and will kill tender plants. 25°F to 28°F considered a moderate freeze is "destructive to most vegetation", and temps of 24°F or colder is a hard freeze and is even more destructive.  Past March 15 risk of a light freeze is lower, but if you want to be extra safe, you can wait until it's less likely to fall under 36°F at March 27.  Regardless, check the weather and don't plant if the weather is expected dip under 36°F that week.

Direct Seed/Use Sets:

(Bolded means last month to plant these this season.  If there is no dates listed, you can plant any time this month.  Asterisks * mean there is differences between guide recommendations, so check notes below).

Arugula
Asparagus
Basil (after March 15)
Beans, Snap and Liana (after March 5) 
Beans, Lima (after March 15)
Beets (before Mar 15)*
Cilantro***
Collards (until March 25)
Corn, sweet
Cucumber (after March 5-15 - guides differ)
Dill
Eggplant (after March 15)
Green Beans (see beans, snap)
Lettuce (leaf)
Mustard Greens
Parsley*
Peas, Southern
Potato, Andean (through March 15)
Radishes*
Swiss Chard (before March 10)**
Spinach (until March 15)
Squash, (Patti Pan, Yellow/summer, Zucchini, Winter)
Turnip**  (before March 10)
Watermelon (after March 15)



Plant Inside To Transplant Later:
(I only bold  things in this section that can't be planted directly, and this is the last month to start indoors to transplant)

Melon, Cantaloupe 
Melon, Spanish
Okra
Pumpkin (before March 16)
Watermelon
Squash (Patti Pan, Yellow, Zucchini, Winter) (before March 15)


Plant Seedlings or Transplants:
Broccoli (before March 16)
Cabbage
Cauliflower (before March 16)*
Cucumber (or direct seed after March 16)
Eggplant (after March 15)
Kale (before March 16)
-Kohlrabi (March 1-8)
Oregano (after March 23)
Leeks
Lettuce, head (Before March 16)
Onion, bunching
Pepper (after March 15)
Squash, (Patti Pan, Yellow, Zucchini, Winter) (after March 15, or direct seed)
Swiss Chard (before March 16)
Thyme (after March 23)
Tomato** (after March 15)

*Guides differ on whether you can plant this month.   Waco Gardening guide says yes, but the Aggie guide says no.

**Guides differ on whether you can plant this month.   Aggie guide says yes, but Waco Gardening guide says no.

***The Central Texas Community Garden Manual says plant seeds indoors this month, and the other guides say wait until February or mid-March and plant directly.  I've put cilantro seeds out starting in January, so I think anytime in March you want to plant them is fine.  No need to wait.

SOURCES:
The Central Texas Community Garden Manual

The Aggie Spring Planting Guide (Used this from WayBack Machine since that page is down)Updated March 1, 2025

How to Grow Basil in Central Texas (Lettuce Grow Something)

SOURCES:
The Central Texas Community Garden Manual
Texas A&M planting guide

Waco Garden Calendar: February

 

Here's what to plant in February!  

Some notes from the The Central Texas Community Garden Manual.

"The earlier you plant in February, the less insect and disease problems you’re likely to have. "

But, since our last frost date isn't until March, there's some risk to it too.   Definitely wait to plant until temps rise above freezing (except for indoor planting). 


Direct Seed/Use Sets:
(Bolded means last month to plant these this season.)

Asparagus

Arugula

Beets*** (maybe until early next month)
Broccoli*
Cabbage*
Carrots
Cilantro

Collards
Corn (After Feb 25)
Dill
Kohlrabi
Lettuce, leaf

Mustard
Onion (sets)

Parsley* (Aggie Guide says plant til March 1, Central Texas Manual says by March 31)
Peas, English
Potato (starting Feb 15)

Potato, Andean

Radish
Spinach (Aggie guide says by Feb 15, Central Texas Manual says by March 31)
Swiss Chard* 
Turnip


Plant Inside To Transplant Later:
(I only bold things here that can't be planted directly, and this is the last month to start indoors)

Basil 

Cucumber

Cantaloupe (after Feb 15)

Cauliflower (Aggie Guide says before March 1, Central Texas Manual says by February 1)

Eggplant

Melon (See Cantaloupe and Watermelon)

Melon, Spanish (After February 15)

Pepper, Hot or Sweet (by Feb 15)
Squash (after Jan 16)
Sweet Potato (Feb 22 - Mar 1)
Swiss Chard (after Feb 16)
Tomatoes 
Watermelons (Feb 22 - Mar 1)
Zucchini (after Feb 16)


Plant Seedlings or Transplants:
Broccoli 
Cabbage 
Cauliflower 

Lettuce, head
Kale

Leeks

Onion, bunching (after Feb 16)

Pak Choi

Swiss Chard (after Feb 16)

*The Central Texas Community Garden Manual  says to transplant, The Aggie Spring Planting Guide says you can plant from seed this month.

**Some differences between sources on exact dates when to plant, but they all said you can plant sometime this month.

***Aggie guide says last month to plant, but Central Texas Community Garden manual says you can plant until March 15

****The Central Texas Community Garden manual says early February is a great time to plant corn, and to  make sure to  apply fertilizers high in nitrogen to encourage growth.




SOURCES:
The Central Texas Community Garden Manual

The Aggie Spring Planting Guide (Used this from WayBack Machine since that page is down)

Edited Jan 29, 2025 - Used Way Back Machine version of Aggie Guide from Dec 2022

Waco Garden Calendar: January

 

January may not seem like a great time for gardening, but there's actually somethings you can plant outdoors now, and a lot you can get started indoors.  

Direct Seed Or Use Sets:

Carrots (Aggie guide says after Jan 15, Central Texas Manual says after Jan 1)
Cilantro**

Onion (sets only - after Jan 15)***

Peas, snap (before Jan 15)

Spinach


Plant Inside To Transplant Later:
(Bolded means last month to plant these inside to transplant this season.)

Bell Peppers 
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery (after Jan 11)
Eggplant (after Jan 15)
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce (Head, not Leaf)
Oregano (after Jan 11)
Pak Choi
Pepper (Hot or Sweet)
Rosemary (after Jan 11)
Swiss Chard 
Squash (after Jan 15)
Tomatoes (after Jan 25)

Zucchini (after Jan 15)




**None of the garden guides list Jan as a time you can plant Cilantro...but I've had it sprout in Jan before. And I've heard of people up north overwintering these in the snow, so it's not likely a frost would kill it.  Plus, getting this in early means you might actually get enough to use before it gets warm and bolts.  They can be tucked between items that are slower growers.

***The Central Texas Community Garden Manual says plant seeds indoors this month, and the other guides say wait until February and March and plant directly.  I've put out onion sets straight outside in January before and they did fine. 



SOURCES:
The Central Texas Community Garden Manual
Texas A&M planting guide
Month By Month Gardening In Texas*

*DISCLOSURE:  This is an Amazon affiliate link through which I can earn commission.

Waco Planting Calendar: December

WATCH FOR FROST!

You've probably already had a few frosty nights in November and know the drill. 

Under 45 degrees at night - harvest your basil leaves (if any survived November's chills).  If the basil is in a pot, bring it in.

Under 32 degrees -   Cover any annuals/vegetables that survived November (see below).

At this point in the year, as frosts get more frequent, I tend to harvest what I can from the plants that are left and let many of them go.    If there are some that you are trying to keep alive a little longer,  make sure they are well watered before a frost, then cover your plants with sheets or plastic (sheets are less likely to freeze to the plants).  I sometimes do a double layer...a sheet followed by a plastic bag.  You can places lights (such as Christmas lights) under or around them to add some heat.

Herbs and veggies to plant this month:

  
START SEEDS OUTDOORS:

Cilantro***


TRANSPLANT

Cabbage*
Kale*



Most of the info for this month's planting guide came from the Aggie Fall Direct Seeding Guide.   Some info also came from   Month to Month Gardening in Texas, which are marked with.*    

* The Aggie guide, in the section on ornamentals, lists flowering cabbage and kale as annuals you can transplant through December.  I assume it still works if you want to eat them.

**Aggie Fall Direct Seeding Guide says in our zone we have til November 1 to plant onion, leeks, and shallots and Month to Month Gardening in Texas says that the last date to plant onion, leeks, and shallots is Oct 1.    However, I've planted onions and chives, both seeds and onion sets, all through the fall in Waco, and had them survive all through the winter.    They do grow slower and more may die off,  but some of the onions you plant in November will survive.

***The Aggie Guide for Cilantro says to plant Cilantro weekly starting in September for a November harvest. I personally planted cilantro in Waco starting in October and going all through the winter   If it freezes it may die, but I just harvest when a freeze is predicted and then plant more in its place (and cilantro is pretty hardy...so sometimes it can survive a freeze).   Any time it warms up it will bolt.  If you know a warm spell is approaching you can harvest before that, or you can let it go to seed and have coriander (and more seeds for planting too).   I keep reseeding cilantro all winter  until the weather starts to warm in the spring.   At that point it bolts so quickly that I find it's easier to just buy cilantro at the grocery store.