Spring Planting Guide
March - May
Spring vegetable gardening in Houston is an exciting multi-month event. Explore the Texas Gardening Zone III Spring Planting Schedule, watering guidelines, best vegetables for Spring, and more.

Spring Planting Schedule
While several crops of each vegetable can be planted throughout the spring to allow for continued staggered harvests, you can begin prepping for your garden as early as late December/early January by starting Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Peppers, Spinach, Tomatoes seeds indoors.
During this time you can also plant Asparagus Crowns, Garlic, Onion Sets, and Seed Potatoes directly in your garden.
Seeds already started indoors (with the exception of tomatoes and peppers) as well as Beans, Beets, Carrots, Peas, Radishes, and Turnips can be transplanted or seeded directly into the garden starting in late February.
In mid-to-late March you can plant Basil, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Gourds, Melons, Okra, Peppers, Pumpkins, Squash, Tomatoes, and Watermelons directly into your garden.
Spring Planting Guide for Vegetable Crops, Texas Zone III
Vegetables | Planting Date |
---|---|
Asparagus | After Feb 1 |
Snap Beans, bush | Mar 5 – May 1 |
Snap Beans, pole | Mar 5 – Apr 15 |
Lima Beans | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
Beets | Feb 1 – Mar 1 |
Broccoli | Feb 1 – Mar 1 |
Brussels sprouts | Not Recommended |
Cabbage | Feb 1 – Mar 1 |
Carrots | Jan 15 – Mar 1 |
Cauliflower | Feb 1 – Mar 1 |
Swiss Chard | Feb 1 – Mar 10 |
Collards | Feb 1 – Mar 25 |
Corn, sweet | Feb 25 – May 1 |
Cucumber | Mar 5 – May 1 |
Eggplant | Mar 15 – May 1 |
Garlic | Not Recommended |
Kohlrabi | Feb 1 – Mar 1 |
Lettuce | Feb 1 – Mar 15 |
Muskmelon/Cantaloupe | Mar 15 – May 1 |
Mustard | Feb 1 – Apr 1 |
Onion | Feb 1 – Mar 1 |
Parsley | Feb 1 – Mar 1 |
English Peas | Feb 1 – Mar 1 |
Southern Peas | Mar 25 – May 20 |
Pepper, transplants | Mar 15 – May 1 |
Potatoes | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
Sweet Potatoes, slips | Apr 10 – May 15 |
Pumpkins | Apr 1 – Apr 20 |
Radish | Feb 1 – May 1 |
Spinach | Jan 1 – Feb 15 |
Summer Squash | Mar 5 – May 1 |
Winter Squash | Mar 5 – May 1 |
Tomatoes, transplants | Mar 15 – Apr 10 |
Turnips | Feb 1 – Mar 10 |
Watermelon | Mar 15 – May 1 |
Spring Watering Schedule
March, April, May: Water only once per week in the spring, if less than one inch of rainfall occurs.
Read our full Watering Guidelines to learn more.

“You all can go to hell, and I will go to Texas.”
Davy Crockett
Best vegetables for Spring gardens
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Collards
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Peppers
Spinach
Tomatoes
Asparagus Crowns
Garlic
Onion Sets
Seed Potatoes
Beans
Beets
Carrots
Peas
Radishes
Turnips
Basil
Corn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Gourds
Melons
Okra
Peppers
Pumpkins
Squash
Tomatoes
Watermelons

Spring Gardening Care Tips
- Mulch your beets, carrots, turnips, and parsnips before the ground freezes hard. Even if the vegetable tops wilt, the roots will survive with mulching and you can often harvest through the winter!
- With fast-maturing crops such as lettuce and hardy greens, stagger small plantings every few weeks to keep the harvest spread out or you’ll get all your lettuce at one time.
- Of course, you’ll need to follow gardening principles you’d use in the summer. Provide good soil (with organic matter), fertilize with plant food if you wish, and water consistently.
Spring Herbs
Many herbs will grow year-round in Houston, such as basil, rosemary, lavender and lemon balm.

Planting by the season
Spring Planting FAQs
Before Spring 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.
Some popular spring garden plants include annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees. Some specific examples include tomatoes, peppers, squash, basil, daffodils, and cherry trees.
When choosing a location for your Spring garden and plants, consider the amount of sunlight, water, and space they need. Most plants need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, although some can tolerate partial shade.
We sell both seeds and seedlings. Most customers chose to purchase seedlings that are ready for Spring planting.
To plant seedlings or young plants, first prepare the soil by loosening it and removing any weeds or debris. Then, dig a hole that is large enough to accommodate the root ball of the plant. Carefully remove the plant from its container, taking care not to disturb the roots. Place the plant in the hole and fill it in with soil, making sure to firmly press the soil around the base of the plant. Water the plant well after planting.
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.
Some common spring 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 spring garden diseases include powdery mildew and leaf spot. To prevent these diseases, it is important to follow good gardening practices, such as watering at the base of the plants, avoiding
Fertilizing your spring 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.
Planting by the Moon (also called “Gardening by the Moon”) is a traditional way to plant your above- and below-ground crops, especially at the start of the season. Here’s how it works:
Plant annual flowers and vegetables that bear crops above ground during the light, or waxing, of the Moon. In other words, plant from the day the Moon is new until the day it is full.
Plant flowering bulbs, biennial and perennial flowers, and vegetables that bear crops below ground during the dark, or waning, of the Moon. In other words, plant from the day after the Moon is full until the day before it is new again.
Old-time farmers swear that this practice results in a larger, tastier harvest, so we’ve included planting by the Moon dates in our planting calendar, too. Learn more about Planting and Gardening by the Moon.