Texas is known for its colorful traditions, diverse landscapes, and wide farmhouses. Gardening is a lifestyle there due to its long growing season and mild winters. Warm-season crops thrive happily in Texas, and tomatoes also deserve Texas’ climate.
Living in Texas, if you have decided to plant tomatoes, taking its seeds in the hand is not enough. The future performance of any plant is dependent on when you have planted in your area!
Likewise, when it comes to the question of when to plant tomatoes in Texas, you still have to consider your local climate. Moreover, the tomato variety that you want to grow also has little effect on the right planting time. (Here’s how)
When to Plant Tomatoes in Texas?
Texas consists of USDA zones from 6 to 10. Each zone offers a different minimum temperature range in Texas, so let me become a tool that will extract the best planting for tomato seeds in YOUR AREA.
The main factor for tomato planting time is understanding the frost of YOUR AREA. Because;
- Tomatoes thrive in warm environments with Day time temperatures 20 to 27C and nighttime 12 to 20C
- Frost (less than 10C) slows or even stops growth
It means;
- If you plant too early during frost, tomato plants will die
- Tomatoes can not produce fruit if you sow seeds late because frost will come again.
Do You Know? Tomato grow more than one-year, if ideal growing conditions are provided consistently, and this mostly observed in its native areas. (here discover perennial tomato)
So, you have to check in YOUR AREA:
- Last Spring Frost Date
- Late Fall Frost Date
The middle period is the tomato-growing window for you! Note this formula! In Texas and its USDA zones, the planting time for tomatoes will be;
- If you live in zone 6 or 7 of Texas, make tomato seedlings indoors in February and then transplant them when frost passes usually from late March to early April.
- If you live in zones 8 to 10, directly sow tomato seeds in an outdoor environment from mid-January to late March (Early Spring)
This is just average panting time, always check frost dates ownly. The minimum temperature ranges only give us an estimate hint to manage plant growth, the main thing is passing frost completely!
Where to Sow Tomato Seeds In Texas
The decision to sow tomato seeds indoors or outdoors is dependent on various factors. But when it comes to growing tomatoes in Texas, especially in south and southeast Texas, then you only have one factor “EARLY HARVEST DESIRE”
If you have enough growing seasons from 5 to 10 months, then you can easily sow tomato seeds directly outdoors as frost ends, but make sure to choose moveable pots or containers. It will help you easily move them indoors during unexpected weather conditions.
On the other hand, if you want an early harvest or you have chosen a heat-sensitive tomato variety, then you have to sow seeds indoors and then transplant them after the last frost to let them grow in cool to mild conditions.
Tomato Planting Times by Region in Texas: Know When It’s Best in Your Area
Planting time based on USDA zones is just an early estimation. Each area has its own micro-climate, especially coming and going frost time, which plays a big role in planting time.
So, let’s determine when to plant tomatoes in YOUR AREA according to growing season and frost periods.
Planting time tomato seeds in North Texas
Amarillo, Lubbock
- USDA Zones: 7 to 8a with annual lows of 0 to 5
- First Frost Date: ~10 November to 24 October
- Last Frost Date: ~11 to 22 April
- Growing Season: ≈184, 216 Days (5 to 6 Months)
- Seed Start Seedlings Indoor: Late February to early March
- Transplant Outdoor: After Mid-April
- Outdoor direct sowing: Possible in May (late Spring)
Planting time tomato seeds in Central Texas
Austin, Waco
- USDA Zones: 8b to 9a (15 to 20F annual lows)
- First Frost Date: ~10 November
- Last Frost Date: ~18 April
- Growing Season: ≈236 Days (6 to 7 Months)
- Seed Start Seedlings Indoor: Mid-February
- Transplant Outdoor: After Early April
- Outdoor direct sowing: Early April as soil warms
Planting time tomato seeds in East Texas
Houston, Tyler
- USDA Zones: 8b to 9b (15 to 30F annual lows)
- First Frost Date: ~13 November to 8 December
- Last Frost Date: ~18 February to 15 March
- Growing Season: ≈242 to 292 Days (7 to 9 month)
- Seed Start Seedlings Indoor: Late December to Mid-January
- Transplant Outdoor: Mid-February to Late March
- Outdoor direct sowing: March or April
Planting time tomato seeds in West Texas
EI Paso, Midland
- USDA Zones: 8a to 8b (10 to 20F annual lows)
- First Frost Date: ~3 to 4 November
- Last Frost Date: ~9 March to 3 April
- Growing Season: ≈213 to 249 Days (6 to 7 month)
- Seed Start Seedlings Indoor: Mid-January to late February
- Transplant Outdoor: Early March to late April
- Outdoor direct sowing: Late March, April or May
Planting time tomato seeds in South Texas
McAllen, Corpus Christi
- USDA Zones: 10a to 10b (30 to 40F annual lows)
- First Frost Date: ~12 to 22 December
- Last Frost Date: ~30 January to 1 February
- Growing Season: ≈313 to 325 Days (10 to 11 month)
- Seed Start Seedlings Indoor: Early January
- Transplant Outdoor: Mid-March
- Outdoor direct sowing: Spring (March to May)
Special Consideration When Planting Tomatoes in Texas
Remember, the above data is just for estimation idea, the key is to sow tomato seeds after frost. Direct sowing outdoors is generally not recommended, so many gardeners transplant tomato seedlings outdoors when soil and air temperatures reach above 10 Celcius.
- Always check your local forecast for more updated times.
- Also, keep a note of the maximum and minimum temperature range of your area to choose the right tomato varieties.
