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What to plant in September in Texas

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

What to sow and plant in September in Texas, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (Dallas, Houston and 8 more): zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn and 13 more.

In Texas, September is fall.

Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and 6 more

In September, on average, these cities have highs of 85 to 90 °F and lows of 63 to 77 °F, 1.0 to 7.5 in of rain on 5 to 16 days; the day lasts 12 h 20 min to 12 h 26 min (on the 15th).

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

HowWhatWhere
sow directZucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy, borageall
start indoors, plant out in OctoberCucumberAustin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and 1 more
sow directWatermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybeanDallas, Austin, San Antonio and 3 more

Compared with August: no longer sown — melon and achocha.

Not starting in September: tomato (January, started indoors), bell pepper (January, started indoors), lettuce (November, sown direct), peas (November, sown direct) and spinach (November, sown direct) — dates for Dallas.

Ready to harvest in September in Dallas, if sown in the right month: chayote (April) and luffa (April).

How we work it out

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

Other months in Texas