Texas Greenhouse Growing Calendar: What to Plant and Do Each Month

A greenhouse can give Texas gardeners more productive months, better protection from sudden cold fronts and greater control over rain, wind and pests. But it does not eliminate the seasons. The best results come from changing crops and greenhouse management as Texas conditions change.

This month-by-month Texas greenhouse growing calendar explains what to sow, transplant, harvest and maintain throughout the year. Use it as a starting point, then adjust for your location, greenhouse design, current weather and the temperature needs of each crop.

Quick answer: What can you grow year-round in a Texas greenhouse?

In many Texas greenhouses, the year can be divided into four practical growing periods:

• Winter: lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, carrots, radishes, onions, parsley and cilantro—with freeze protection when necessary
• Spring: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, beans, squash, basil and flowers
• Summer: basil, okra, eggplant, southern peas, sweet-potato slips, heat-tolerant peppers and selected tropical greens—with aggressive cooling
• Fall: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, carrots, beets, radishes, peas, herbs and a second crop of warm-season vegetables where the season allows

A greenhouse extends the growing season; it does not automatically provide climate control. Winter production may require supplemental heat, while summer production usually requires exterior shade, large vents, exhaust fans, circulation and dependable irrigation.

First, identify your Texas growing region

Texas is too large for one exact planting date to work statewide. A January task in Brownsville may not be appropriate at the same time in Amarillo. Use the regional guidance below, your local forecast and the average first and last frost dates for your ZIP code.

Texas region	Examples	General greenhouse adjustment
North Texas and the Panhandle	Amarillo, Lubbock, Wichita Falls, Dallas–Fort Worth	Start spring crops later, keep freeze protection available longer and begin fall crops earlier.
Central Texas	Austin, Waco, Bryan–College Station, the Hill Country	Use the core calendar, adjusting a few weeks for elevation and local frost dates.
East Texas and the Gulf Coast	Tyler, Montgomery, Houston, Beaumont, Corpus Christi	Start spring earlier; prioritize airflow, humidity control and disease prevention.
South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley	San Antonio southward, Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville	Plant warm-season crops earlier; expect a longer summer cooling season and a mild winter growing window.
West Texas	El Paso, Midland, Odessa and surrounding areas	Prepare for dry air, large day-to-night temperature swings, wind and greater irrigation demand.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is useful for understanding average winter minimum temperatures, especially when choosing perennial plants. It is not a complete vegetable-planting calendar. For annual crops, also consider soil or root-zone temperature, frost risk, daytime heat, humidity and the greenhouse’s actual overnight minimum.

Texas greenhouse rule: Let temperature and plant development—not the calendar alone—decide when to transplant. A simple min/max thermometer at plant height is one of the most useful tools you can own.

January: Protect winter crops and start the spring season

January is a productive month for cool-season crops, but Texas cold fronts can cause rapid temperature drops. Focus on winter harvests while beginning slow-growing spring transplants indoors or in a heated propagation area.

Sow

• Lettuce, spinach and Asian greens
• Radishes and baby carrots
• Kale, chard and arugula
• Parsley and cilantro
• Onions from seed in suitable regions
• Tomatoes and peppers in trays for later transplanting, if you can provide warmth and strong light

Transplant or grow on

• Broccoli, cabbage, kale and other established cold-tolerant transplants
• Lettuce and herbs into open greenhouse beds or containers

Harvest

• Leaf lettuce and baby greens
• Spinach, kale and chard
• Radishes, carrots and green onions
• Parsley and cilantro

Greenhouse maintenance

• Check heaters, thermostats and backup power before a cold front.
• Seal unintended drafts while keeping deliberate ventilation available for sunny afternoons.
• Remove condensation and maintain airflow to reduce foliar disease.
• Water in the morning and avoid leaving roots saturated through cold nights.
• Inspect door latches, anchors and panels after winter wind.

February: Build seedlings and prepare beds

Light levels rise in February, and the greenhouse can warm quickly on clear days. Keep cool-season crops moving while preparing tomatoes, peppers and eggplant for spring.

Sow

• Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant in warm seed-starting conditions
• Basil late in the month in warmer regions
• Lettuce, radishes, carrots and beets
• Broccoli, cabbage and kale for transplanting
• Cucumbers only if their transplant date is approaching; oversized cucumber seedlings dislike root disturbance

Transplant or grow on

• Harden cool-season seedlings gradually before moving them into cooler beds.
• Pot up tomatoes or peppers when roots fill their starting cells.

Harvest

• Winter greens, herbs, radishes and root crops
• Broccoli side shoots and mature brassicas

Greenhouse maintenance

• Refresh beds with finished compost and amendments based on a soil test.
• Wash pots, trays and tools before the main propagation season.
• Test automatic vent openers and circulation fans.
• Install trellis supports before fast-growing spring crops occupy the beds.

March: Transition into warm-season production

March is a changeover month across much of Texas. Warm days may be followed by a late freeze, so avoid transplanting only because the greenhouse feels warm at noon.

Sow

• Beans, cucumbers and squash for short-term transplant production
• Basil, dill and warm-season flowers
• Heat-tolerant lettuce for continued spring harvests
• Successive plantings of radishes and baby greens

Transplant

• Tomatoes in South Texas and protected Gulf Coast greenhouses when nighttime conditions are suitable
• Tomatoes later in Central Texas, with protection ready for cold fronts
• Peppers and eggplant after the root zone and nights are consistently warm
• Cucumbers into trellised beds or large containers

Harvest

• Lettuce, spinach, kale, chard and herbs
• Carrots, beets, radishes and green onions
• Remaining cool-season brassicas

Greenhouse maintenance

• Begin shading or increase ventilation during unexpectedly hot afternoons.
• Remove finished winter crops and sanitize the growing area.
• Set up drip irrigation and check every emitter.
• Scout twice weekly for aphids, whiteflies, thrips and spider mites.

April: Support rapid spring growth

April is often one of the most productive greenhouse months in Texas. Tomatoes, cucumbers and beans grow rapidly, but temperatures can climb well above outdoor conditions without sufficient ventilation.

Sow

• Basil and other warm-season herbs
• Bush beans and cucumbers for succession crops
• Okra and southern peas for later planting
• Heat-tolerant flowers and pollinator plants

Transplant

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers and basil across much of Texas
• Warm-season crops later in North Texas and the Panhandle

Harvest

• Final cool-season greens before they bolt
• Early herbs, radishes, carrots and beets
• Early cucumbers in warm regions

Greenhouse maintenance

• Tie and prune indeterminate tomatoes according to the chosen training system.
• Provide trellises for cucumbers and climbing beans.
• Maintain consistent root-zone moisture as plants flower and set fruit.
• Add circulation fans if leaves remain still or humid air collects within the canopy.
• Install exterior shade cloth before the first sustained heat—not after plants are already stressed.

May: Harvest heavily and prepare for heat

By May, cooling becomes the central task in much of Texas. The goal is to protect fruit set, prevent root zones from drying rapidly and keep pests from multiplying in hot, stagnant conditions.

Sow

• Basil, okra and southern peas
• Heat-tolerant flowers and herbs
• A limited succession of cucumbers where cooling is adequate

Transplant or manage

• Replace declining spring crops with heat-tolerant plants.
• Continue training tomatoes and cucumbers vertically.
• Thin overcrowded foliage without stripping plants of needed shade.

Harvest

• Tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and squash
• Peppers, herbs and remaining spring greens

Greenhouse maintenance

• Confirm roof vents and intake openings are fully operational.
• Run exhaust and circulation fans before temperatures become excessive.
• Inspect shade cloth fasteners before thunderstorm winds.
• Mulch beds or cover container surfaces to slow moisture loss.
• Track daytime maximums and nighttime minimums, not just the temperature at the time you visit.

For a complete heat-management system, read How to Keep a Greenhouse Cool in a 100°F Texas Summer.

June: Shift to a summer greenhouse strategy

June is not simply a continuation of spring. In many Texas greenhouses, it is time to reduce planting density, prioritize heat-tolerant crops and begin seedlings for the fall garden in a protected area.

Sow

• Okra, southern peas and basil
• Heat-tolerant or tropical greens suited to your conditions
• Sweet-potato slips where space permits
• Fall tomatoes late in the month in some regions, ideally in a cooler propagation area

Harvest

• Tomatoes and cucumbers while fruit set continues
• Peppers, eggplant, basil and beans
• Okra and southern peas as they mature

Greenhouse maintenance

• Place exterior shade cloth so it does not obstruct roof vents.
• Check irrigation daily and water according to root-zone moisture.
• Keep floors and walkways free of algae and standing water.
• Remove badly infested or diseased plants instead of allowing them to become pest reservoirs.
• Review a power-outage plan for fans and automated controls.

July: Maintain summer crops and start the fall garden

July may be the hardest greenhouse month in Texas. Ventilation can prevent solar heat from building far above outdoor temperature, but ventilation alone cannot cool the greenhouse below the outside air temperature.

Sow

• Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower in a cooled propagation area for fall planting
• Tomatoes for a fall crop where there is enough season remaining
• Basil and heat-adapted greens
• Cucumbers for a fall crop in regions where pest pressure and temperatures can be managed

Harvest

• Okra, eggplant, peppers and southern peas
• Basil and other heat-tolerant herbs
• Remaining tomatoes and cucumbers if plants are still productive

Greenhouse maintenance

• Inspect plants early in the morning, when heat stress and moisture conditions are easiest to evaluate.
• Keep intake screens, fan shutters and blades clean.
• Monitor spider mites, whiteflies and thrips closely.
• Provide an air gap above exterior shade cloth when the structure permits.
• Avoid overwatering as a substitute for adequate shade and ventilation.

August: Launch the main fall planting cycle

August is the bridge between summer survival and Texas’s highly productive fall season. Timing matters: begin early enough for crops to establish, but protect young plants from extreme heat.

Sow

• Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and collards in trays
• Lettuce and spinach in a cooled location or later in the month as conditions improve
• Carrots, beets, radishes and turnips for direct sowing when bed temperatures are suitable
• Cilantro, parsley and dill as nights begin to moderate
• Fall cucumbers and bush beans in warmer areas

Transplant

• Fall tomatoes early enough to produce before cold weather
• Brassica seedlings after hardening and when heat protection is available

Harvest

• Peppers, eggplant, okra, basil and southern peas
• Sweet-potato leaves or tubers where appropriate

Greenhouse maintenance

• Clean and prepare beds as summer crops finish.
• Add compost and fertilizer according to crop needs and soil-test results.
• Keep shade in place while seedlings establish.
• Plan succession sowings rather than planting the entire fall crop at once.

September: Establish the fall garden

September can deliver excellent greenhouse growth as nights become more favorable. Warm-season harvests may continue while cool-season crops fill newly opened beds.

Sow

• Lettuce, spinach, arugula and Asian greens
• Carrots, radishes, beets and turnips
• Cilantro, dill and parsley
• Peas later in cooler regions or when greenhouse temperatures allow

Transplant

• Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards and lettuce
• Fall tomatoes and cucumbers only where the remaining season and greenhouse climate support them

Harvest

• Peppers, eggplant, basil, okra and southern peas
• Fall beans and cucumbers as they mature

Greenhouse maintenance

• Gradually reduce shade as solar intensity and temperature decline.
• Improve airflow around dense brassica foliage.
• Check caterpillars, aphids and whiteflies on new transplants.
• Inspect heater systems before the first cold-front emergency.

October: Enjoy peak fall planting

October is one of the easiest months for greenhouse gardening in much of Texas. Many cool-season crops germinate and grow well, while the structure buffers wind and sudden weather changes.

Sow

• Lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula and chard
• Radishes, carrots, beets and turnips
• Cilantro, parsley and dill
• Peas where conditions are cool enough

Transplant

• Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce
• Onions where locally appropriate

Harvest

• Fall tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and beans
• Young greens, herbs and radishes

Greenhouse maintenance

• Remove shade cloth when it is no longer needed, clean it and store it dry.
• Repair glazing seals and close unintended gaps.
• Test heaters under load rather than waiting for a freeze.
• Clean gutters and drainage areas.
• Remove declining warm-season plants promptly.

November: Protect cool-season production

November shifts the greenhouse from cooling to heat retention across much of the state. Growth slows as daylight decreases, even when temperatures remain comfortable.

Sow

• Lettuce, spinach, arugula and mustard greens
• Radishes and baby carrots
• Cilantro and parsley
• Microgreens for quick indoor harvests

Transplant

• Lettuce, kale, chard and hardy herbs
• Broccoli and cabbage in warmer Texas regions

Harvest

• Leafy greens, herbs and root crops
• Broccoli and other fall brassicas
• Final warm-season fruits before cold damage

Greenhouse maintenance

• Keep row cover ready for protection inside an unheated greenhouse.
• Vent on sunny days; a closed greenhouse can still overheat in winter.
• Reduce irrigation frequency as plant growth and evaporation slow.
• Prevent wet foliage from remaining cold overnight.
• Secure doors and vents before strong fronts.

December: Harvest, protect and review the year

December is ideal for winter greens and planning. In heated greenhouses, seedlings can continue; in unheated structures, focus on cold-tolerant crops and layered freeze protection.

Sow

• Lettuce, spinach, kale and Asian greens
• Radishes and small-rooted carrots
• Cilantro and parsley
• Microgreens and herbs in warm, well-lit areas

Harvest

• Salad greens, kale, chard and spinach
• Radishes, carrots and green onions
• Cilantro, parsley and other hardy herbs

Greenhouse maintenance

• Inspect heaters, fuel, thermostats and extension cords safely.
• Use thermal mass only as a temperature buffer, not as a guaranteed substitute for heat during a hard freeze.
• Wash unused trays and organize seed inventory.
• Review which varieties produced well and which struggled.
• Order seed and replacement supplies before the spring rush.

A simple succession plan for continuous harvests

One large planting creates one large harvest. Smaller repeated sowings create a steadier supply and reduce waste.

Crop	Practical succession approach
Lettuce and baby greens	Sow a small batch every 1–3 weeks during suitable temperatures.
Radishes	Sow short rows every 1–2 weeks during cool weather.
Carrots and beets	Sow every 2–4 weeks while germination conditions remain favorable.
Bush beans	Start another small planting every 2–3 weeks during mild weather.
Cucumbers	Replace aging vines with a younger planting rather than keeping diseased vines indefinitely.
Basil and cilantro	Sow small batches regularly; grow basil in warmth and cilantro in cooler seasons.
Tomatoes and peppers	Plan distinct spring and fall crops where local conditions allow.

Label every tray and bed with the variety and sowing date. Without records, it is difficult to improve next year’s calendar.

Seasonal greenhouse maintenance checklist

Before summer

• Test roof vents, exhaust fans, intake louvers and automatic controls.
• Install securely fastened exterior shade cloth.
• Flush irrigation lines and confirm even water delivery.
• Place temperature and humidity sensors at plant height.
• Remove clutter that blocks airflow.

Before winter

• Inspect panels, glazing seals, doors and weather stripping.
• Test heaters and thermostats.
• Prepare row covers or frost blankets for use inside the greenhouse.
• Remove summer shade that is no longer required.
• Check anchors and storm hardware.

Every month

• Scout the underside of leaves for pests.
• Remove weeds, fallen foliage and diseased material.
• Clean fan guards, screens and vents.
• Check irrigation emitters and drainage.
• Record minimum and maximum temperatures.
• Confirm doors, vents, panels and anchors remain secure.

Texas storms can arrive quickly. Use our guide to protecting a Texas greenhouse from hail and wind to create a storm-closing checklist.

How greenhouse design affects your calendar

The planting calendar tells you what you want to grow. The greenhouse determines how much control you have when the weather changes.

Features that improve year-round usability include:

• Roof-level exhaust vents for rising hot air
• Large intake openings and doors
• Space for circulation or exhaust fans
• Strong anchoring and a properly prepared foundation
• Durable glazing suited to the property and local risks
• Enough height for tomatoes, cucumbers and trellising
• Shelving for propagation without sacrificing bed space
• A layout that leaves room for air movement and maintenance

Compare materials in Polycarbonate vs. Glass Greenhouse: Best Choice for Texas, or use our Texas greenhouse selection guide before choosing a model.

Frequently asked questions

Can you grow vegetables year-round in a Texas greenhouse?

Yes, with realistic crop selection and sufficient climate management. Cool-season vegetables generally perform best from fall through spring, while heat-tolerant crops are better suited to summer. Supplemental heat may be necessary during freezes, and summer growing requires shade and ventilation.

Is an unheated greenhouse useful in Texas?

Yes. An unheated greenhouse can extend seasons, protect plants from wind and rain, and create a favorable environment for many cool-season crops. However, it will not remain frost-free during every Texas cold event. Use a min/max thermometer and have backup protection ready.

When should I start tomato seeds in a Texas greenhouse?

Start them early enough to produce sturdy transplants by the local planting window—often several weeks before outdoor conditions are suitable. Exact timing depends on your region, variety, propagation temperature and whether the finished plants will remain in a climate-controlled greenhouse.

What are the easiest greenhouse vegetables to grow in Texas?

Lettuce, radishes, kale, chard and herbs are approachable during cooler months. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and basil are productive in spring when ventilation is adequate. Okra, eggplant and southern peas tolerate more summer heat, although the greenhouse still needs cooling.

Does a greenhouse need shade cloth in Texas?

Most Texas greenhouses benefit from exterior shade during the hot season. The appropriate shade percentage depends on the crop, glazing, location and ventilation capacity. Too much shade can reduce flowering and yields, so match it to the plants rather than choosing the darkest available material.

Should I use USDA hardiness zones to schedule vegetables?

Use your zone as one reference, especially for perennial cold hardiness. For annual vegetables, local frost dates, soil temperature, heat, humidity and current greenhouse temperatures are more useful for exact timing. The USDA also describes its hardiness map as a general guide based on average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

How often should I water greenhouse plants?

Water according to root-zone moisture, crop size, container volume, weather and season—not a fixed statewide schedule. Containers may need frequent summer irrigation, while winter beds can stay wet much longer. Drip irrigation helps direct water to roots and keep foliage drier.

Make every Texas growing season more productive

A productive greenhouse year is not built around one crop or one planting date. It comes from a repeating system:

1. Match the crop to the season.
2. Sow small succession plantings.
3. Monitor temperature and root-zone moisture.
4. Prepare early for heat, freezes and storms.
5. Keep records and adjust the calendar for your property.

With the right structure and a practical seasonal plan, a Texas greenhouse can produce fresh food for far more of the year while giving delicate plants valuable protection from unpredictable weather.

Ready to choose a greenhouse for your property? Explore House Your Greens greenhouses, call (936) 720-1575, or email hello@houseyourgreens.com for personalized Texas greenhouse guidance.

By House Your Greens Editorial Team · Updated 2026-09-07.