What to plant in April in Texas

Worked out for 10 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.

What to sow and plant in April in Texas, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (Brownsville): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, green beans, cucumber and 22 more; frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Dallas, Houston and 6 more): zucchini, green beans, cucumber, melon, watermelon and 17 more; frost possible, highs of 72–82 °F (Amarillo): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, cucumber, eggplant and 19 more.

In Texas, April is spring.

Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Brownsville

In April, on average, Brownsville has highs of 85 °F and lows of 69 °F, 2.6 in of rain on 8 days; the day lasts 12 h 46 min (on the 15th).

No frost in April in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.

How	What	Where
start indoors, plant out in June	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper	Brownsville
sow direct	Zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean	Brownsville
start indoors, plant out in May	Cucumber, melon, achocha	Brownsville
start indoors, plant out in July	Celeriac, celery	Brownsville

The same as in March.

Not starting in April: lettuce (November, started indoors), peas (November, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Brownsville.

Ready to harvest in April in Brownsville, if sown in the right month: cabbage (December), zucchini (February), green beans (February), basil (February), bok choy (February), borage (February), Napa cabbage (February) and soybean (February).

Frost dates in Brownsville

Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and 4 more

In April, on average, these cities have highs of 76 to 82 °F and lows of 51 to 67 °F, 0.1 to 6.6 in of rain on 1 to 14 days; the day lasts 12 h 49 min to 13 h 00 min (on the 15th).

No frost in April in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.

How	What	Where
start indoors, plant out in June	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper	Houston, Corpus Christi and Lubbock
sow direct	Zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy, borage	all
start indoors, plant out in May	Cucumber	Dallas, Houston, Austin and 4 more
start indoors, plant out in May	Melon, achocha	Houston, Austin, Corpus Christi and 1 more
sow direct	Watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean	Dallas, Houston, Austin and 4 more
sow direct or start indoors, plant out in June	Moringa	Houston, Austin, San Antonio and 2 more
sow direct	Arugula	Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth and 1 more
start indoors, plant out in July	Celeriac, celery	Houston, Corpus Christi and Lubbock

Compared with March: no longer sown — peas, beet, parsley, cilantro, chamomile, dill and mustard greens.

Not starting in April: lettuce (October, started indoors), peas (October, sown direct) and spinach (October, started indoors) — dates for Lubbock.

Ready to harvest in April in Lubbock, if sown in the right month: broad bean (January), peas (February), lettuce (February), cabbage (December), Swiss chard (February), beet (February), arugula (March) and chamomile (February).

Frost possible, highs of 72–82 °F: Amarillo

In April, on average, Amarillo has highs of 73 °F and lows of 47 °F, 1.8 in of rain on 6 days; the day lasts 13 h 04 min (on the 15th).

April falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average last frost: Amarillo (April 6).

How	What	Where
start indoors, plant out in June	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel, moringa	Amarillo
start indoors, plant out in May	Zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha, bok choy, kiwano, luffa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut	Amarillo
sow direct	Arugula	Amarillo
start indoors, plant out in July	Celeriac, celery, chayote	Amarillo

Compared with March: new — zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha and 6 more; no longer sown — peas, lettuce, radish, Swiss chard, beet, parsley, cilantro, chamomile and 3 more.

Not starting in April: green beans (May, sown direct), lettuce (October, sown direct), peas (October, sown direct) and spinach (October, started indoors) — dates for Amarillo.

Ready to harvest in April in Amarillo, if sown in the right month: peas (February), spinach (February), lettuce (February), radish (March), cabbage (December), Swiss chard (February), arugula (March) and chamomile (February).

Frost dates in Amarillo

How we work it out

For each city we use its average weather in April and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in April if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.

Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).

This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.