When to Plant Tomatoes in Texas
In Texas, the time to transplant tomatoes outside runs from Jan 16 – Jan 30 in Brownsville to Apr 22 – May 6 in Amarillo. In Houston, it's Feb 9 – Feb 23. The average last spring frost differs by about 14 weeks across the state (Jan 9 in Brownsville, Apr 15 in Amarillo), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.
- Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 1–3 weeks after the last frost.
Tomatoes planting dates in Texas by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | 8a | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Allen | 8b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Amarillo | 7a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Arlington | 8b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Austin | 9a | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 |
| Beaumont | 9b | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 |
| Brownsville | 10a | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 |
| Carrollton | 8b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| College Station | 9a | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Conroe | 9a | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Corpus Christi | 10a | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Jan 29 – Feb 12 |
| Dallas | 8b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Denton | 8a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| El Paso | 8b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Fort Worth | 8b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Frisco | 8b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Garland | 8b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Grand Prairie | 8b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Houston | 9b | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Feb 9 – Feb 23 |
| Irving | 8b | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Killeen | 8b | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Laredo | 9b | Nov 30 – Dec 14 | Feb 1 – Feb 15 |
| League City | 9b | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 |
| Lewisville | 8b | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Lubbock | 7b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| McAllen | 10a | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 |
| McKinney | 8b | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Mesquite | 8b | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Midland | 8b | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| New Braunfels | 9a | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Odessa | 8b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Pasadena | 9b | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 |
| Pearland | 9b | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 |
| Plano | 8b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Richardson | 8b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Round Rock | 9a | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| San Antonio | 9a | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Sugar Land | 9b | Dec 15 – Dec 29 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Tyler | 8b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Waco | 8b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Texas, or the general guide to when to plant tomatoes.
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