What to plant in February in Texas

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

What to sow and plant in February in Texas, by zone: frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Corpus Christi and Brownsville): peas, beet, tomato, bell pepper, zucchini and 30 more; frost possible, highs of 61–72 °F (Dallas, Houston and 5 more): broad bean, peas, onion, lettuce, radish and 31 more; frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F (Amarillo): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 14 more.

In Texas, February is winter.

Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Corpus Christi and Brownsville

In February, on average, these cities have highs of 72 to 75 °F and lows of 55 to 59 °F, 1.3 to 1.5 in of rain on 6 to 7 days; the day lasts 11 h 13 min to 11 h 17 min (on the 15th).

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

How	What	Where
sow direct	Peas, beet, parsley, cilantro, chamomile, dill, mustard greens	Corpus Christi
start indoors, plant out in April	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, moringa	all
start indoors, plant out in March or sow direct	Zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, basil, luffa, okra, peanut	all
sow direct	Green Beans, sweet corn, arugula, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, Napa cabbage	all
start indoors, plant out in March	Cucumber, melon, achocha	all
start indoors, plant out in May	Celeriac, celery	all
sow direct	Soybean	Brownsville

Compared with January: new — green beans, borage, corn and soybean; no longer sown — broad bean, onion, lettuce, radish, cabbage, Swiss chard, chickpea, kohlrabi and 1 more.

Not starting in February: lettuce (November, started indoors) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Corpus Christi.

Ready to harvest in February in Corpus Christi, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), peas (December), lettuce (December), radish (January), carrot (December), Swiss chard (December), beet (December) and parsley (December).

Frost possible, highs of 61–72 °F: Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and 3 more

In February, on average, these cities have highs of 62 to 69 °F and lows of 35 to 51 °F, 0.4 to 4.4 in of rain on 2 to 12 days; the day lasts 10 h 59 min to 11 h 09 min (on the 15th).

February falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average last frost: Dallas (February 19), Houston (February 17), Austin (February 19), San Antonio (February 10), Fort Worth (February 19) and El Paso (February 28).

How	What	Where
sow direct	Broad bean, cabbage, kohlrabi	Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth and 1 more
sow direct	Peas, radish, beet, arugula, chamomile, dill, mustard greens	all
plant sets	Onion, shallot	Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth and 1 more
sow direct	Lettuce, Swiss chard	Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth and 2 more
start indoors, plant out in April	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel, moringa	Dallas, Houston, Austin and 3 more
start indoors, plant out in March	Zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha, bok choy, kiwano, luffa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut	Dallas, Houston, Austin and 3 more
sow direct	Parsley, cilantro	Dallas, Houston, Austin and 3 more
start indoors, plant out in May	Celeriac, celery, chayote	Houston, Austin and Lubbock
sow direct	Chickpea	Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth

Compared with January: new — zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha and 6 more; no longer sown — spinach, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, daikon, kale, parsnip and turnip.

Not starting in February: green beans (March, sown direct) and spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for Austin.

Ready to harvest in February in Austin, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), peas (December), spinach (December), lettuce (December), radish (January), carrot (December), broccoli (November) and Swiss chard (December).

Frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F: Amarillo

In February, on average, Amarillo has highs of 57 °F and lows of 31 °F, 0.4 in of rain on 3 days; the day lasts 10 h 55 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.

February falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait.

How	What	Where
sow direct	Broad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, cabbage, Swiss chard, arugula, chamomile, daikon, kale, parsnip	Amarillo
plant sets	Onion, shallot	Amarillo
start indoors, plant out in March	Beet, kohlrabi	Amarillo
start indoors, plant out in May	Celeriac, celery, chayote	Amarillo

Compared with January: new — onion, cabbage, celeriac, celery, chayote, daikon, parsnip and shallot; no longer sown — cauliflower and parsley.

Not starting in February: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), zucchini (April, started indoors) and green beans (May, sown direct) — dates for Amarillo.

Ready to harvest in February in Amarillo, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), peas (December), spinach (December), radish (January), cabbage (October), broccoli (November), Swiss chard (December) and chamomile (December).

Frost dates in Amarillo

How we work it out

For each city we use its average weather in February 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 February 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.