September - December
Fall is a fine time to plant veggies in Houston. One of the perks of living in our zone is that we can have two productive times for planting veggies each year!
Explore the Texas Gardening Zone III Fall Planting Schedule, watering guidelines, and more.
Fall Planting Schedule
In anticipation of cooling temps as Fall arrives, the Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Cilantro, Collards, Lettuce, Peas (direct sow outdoors), Tomatoes seeds can be planted ahead of time indoors beginning in early August.
Vegetables such as Beans, Beets, Carrots, Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi, Onions, Spinach, Turnips previously started from seed indoors, can be planted by seed or transplants outdoors in the garden beginning in mid-September.
Radish seeds, strawberry plants, and garlic cloves can be planted outdoors beginning in October.Plant Onion sets in mid-November.
Fall Direct Seeding Guide, Texas Zone III
Vegetables | Planting Date |
|---|---|
Snap Beans, bush | Sep 1 |
Lima Beans | Aug 20 |
Beets | Oct 15 |
Broccoli | Sept 1 |
Brussels sprouts | Sept 1 |
Cabbage | Sept 1 |
Carrots | Nov 10 |
Cauliflower | Sept 1 |
Swiss Chard | Oct 1 |
Collards | Oct 10 |
Corn, sweet | Aug 20 |
Cucumber | Sept 1 |
Eggplant | Jul 1 |
Garlic | Oct |
Kohlrabi | Sept 10 |
Lettuce | Oct 10 |
Mustard | Nov 1 |
Onion, seed | Nov 1 |
Parsley | Oct 10 |
Southern Peas | Aug 1 |
Pepper | Jul 1 |
Potatoes | Sep 1 |
Pumpkins | Aug 1 |
Radish | Nov 25 |
Spinach | Nov 15 |
Summer Squash | Sept 10 |
Winter Squash | Aug 10 |
Tomatoes, transplants | Jul 1 |
Turnips | Nov 1 |
Watermelon | Mar 15 – May 1 |
First Frost
According to the Farmers Almanac, the first frost in Houston is generally 12/20, and the last spring frost is 2/8.
Fall Watering Schedule
October-December: Early Fall is Brown Patch Season and excess water triggers this disease. During September water only once per week if no rainfall and every two weeks in October if no rain.
Read our full Watering Guidelines to learn more.
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Best vegetables for Fall gardens
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Cilantro
Collards
Lettuce
Peas (direct sow outdoors)
Tomatoes
Beans
Beets
Carrots
Chard
Kale
Kohlrabi
Onions
Spinach
Turnips
Radish seeds
Strawberry plants
Garlic cloves
“You all can go to hell, and I will go to Texas.”
Davy Crockett
Herbs
Many herbs will grow year-round in our Gulf Coast area such as lavender, oregano, mint, thyme, and rosemary.
Planting by the season
Spring Planting Guide
Fall Planting Guide
Fall Planting FAQ
Before Fall planting, it is important to prepare the soil. Remove any weeds, rocks, and debris from your garden beds and loosen soil to help plants root and grow. Adding compost and other organic matter can help improve the soil structure and fertility.
Although Fall temperatures cool off, the soil remains warm for some time. Warm soil temperatures are ideal for root growth and vegetables with established root systems handle heat and drought much better come Spring.
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Cilantro
- Collards
- Lettuce
- Peas (direct sow outdoors)
- Tomatoes
- Beans
- Beets
- Carrots
- Chard
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Onions
- Spinach
- Turnips
- Radish seeds
- Strawberry plants
- Garlic cloves
The frequency of watering will depend on the specific needs of your plants and the weather conditions. In general, most plants should be watered deeply once or twice a week, depending on the soil moisture level and the weather. It is important to avoid letting the soil dry out completely, but also avoid over-watering, which can lead to root rot.
Fertilizing your fall garden can help provide essential nutrients for plant growth. There are many different types of fertilizers available, including organic and synthetic options. It is important to choose the right type of fertilizer for your plants and to follow the specific application instructions. In general, it is best to fertilize your plants every few weeks during the growing season.
Warm-weather veggies like beans, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, cantaloupe, and watermelons are all sown directly into the ground.
Tender heat-loving plants such as tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, and eggplants take a long time to mature and have a lengthy harvesting period, so we generally don’t plant a second round of these crops for fall, as they won’t ripen in time. (In regions with mild winters, this may not be the case.) These crops are typically started indoors early in the season and transplanted.
Root vegetables (beets, carrots) do not transplant well, so start seeds directly in the soil outside.
Peas are also best seeded into the ground; do not transplant.
Cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and cabbage could be direct seeded, but because of the heat of mid- and late summer, it’s better to start them indoors and then transplant them into the garden.
We tend to direct-sow leafy greens such as lettuce, chard, and spinach, though some gardeners will also sow indoors. It depends on your climate.
Note that garlic is not included in our planting chart. It’s a popular fall crop, but the dates vary wildly based on location and it’s really best to gauge garlic planting dates with a soil thermometer. When the soil temperature is 60°F (15.6°C) at a depth of 4 inches, then plant your garlic. We’d advise checking our Garlic Growing Guide for more information.
Read more about the best vegetables to plant in fall.
Answer: Some common fall garden pests include aphids, slugs, and caterpillars. To prevent infestations, it is important to regularly inspect your plants and remove any pests that you find. You can also use organic or chemical pest control methods as needed. Some common fall garden diseases include powdery mildew and leaf spot.
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