Plants

 

Plant Spring Fall Varieties Space in Row Space Between Rows Days to Harvest Special Notes
Seed Date Transplant Date Seed Date Transplant Date
Artichoke n/a 3/15 – 4/15 n/a n/a 3′ 4′ 100 days Perennials, like asparagusWater 3x/day in heat of summer

Harvest w/ a knife when bud appears
Asparagus n/a 2/2 – 2/16 n/a n/a 2 year crown:Martha Washington,

Jersey

 2′ 2′ 1 year Fertilize w/Nitrogen 2x a year2″ water each week
Beets 2/2 – 2/16 9/11 – 9/15 Detroit RedTouchstone Gold

Chioggia

 15 seeds per foot 18″ 52 days
Bok Choi 2/2 – 2/16 9/1 – 11/28 18″ 30″ 75-90 days
Broccoli,Brokali 1/2 – 1/30 2/2 – 2/28 7/15 – 8/15 8/20 – 9/15 DividendGreen Comet

Pack Man

 16″ 2′ 60 days Start seeds indoors; transplant onlyBetter success in Fall
Brussel Sprouts n/a n/a 7/20 8/20 – 9/15 DiabloJade Cross

Royal Marvel

Tasty Nugget

 2′ 2′ 100 days Harder to grow in Texas; recommend Fall only
Cabbage 2/2 – 2/16 9/1 – 11/28 18″ 30″ 75-90 days
Cantaloupe 4/1 – 5/1 7/1 – 8/1 AmbrosiaIsraeli

Rocky Ford

Hale’s Best

 2′ 6′ 75 days Don’t water 2 weeks before harvesting
Carrots 12/15 – 12/31 2/2 – 2/16 7/10 – 9/30 8/25 – 10/15 Danver 126 70 days Seeds take 21 days to germinate–shallow, constant moistureLove earthworm castings

Cut tops off to store
Corn 3/16 – 4/27 8/1 – 8/25 Golden Bantam 12 Row 73 days
Cucumber 3/20 – 5/1 8/1 – 8/15 BurplessArmenian Long

MarketMore 76

Straight 8

 1′ 3′ – 5′ 50 days Pick a little bit of stem–stay fresh longerDon’t pick when wet
Dry Beans 3/16 – 4/13 8/1 – 8/25 Place dried beans from store between wet paper towels in dark for 2-3 days; plant those that sproutedPole only–need trellis

Can eat as green beans, or as soft (fresh) hulled beans, or as dried beans
Eggplant 3/30 – 4/27 n/a n/a Asian/Oriental varieties 2′ 2′ 65 days Beware of sun scorchHarvest w/ scissors
Garlic n/a n/a 9/15 – 10/15 8 months Harvest in June
Green Beans 3/16 – 4/13 8/1 – 8/25 Contender (bush)Top Crop (bush)

Blue Lake (bush)

Louisiana Purple Pod (pole)

Kentucky Wonder (pole)

Reimers (pole) – heirloom

 55 days Pole beans bear all season; bush have 2 bursts of output, then dieDon’t harvest when wet

Do not hot bath beans–pressure can only

Blanch before freezing
Kale 2/10 – 3/10 8/25 – 10/1 Rugged Jack,Red Russian,

Dwarf Blue Curled

 12″ 18″ – 30″ 55 days
Leeks 1/10 2/10 – 2/25 8/15 9/15 – 10/15 American FlagKing Richard

Lancelot

 1′ 2′ 100 days Start as seedlings in house, transplant (not wet/wet) when size of pencil leadHarvest with shovel; leave in ground until needed
Lettuce 2/2 – 3/30 8/25 – 10/15 Red SailsSimpson 2″ 18″ 50 days Harvest in the early morning
Okra 4/15 – 6/1 n/a n/a EmeraldLee

Clemson Spineless

 50 days
Onion n/a n/a 10/15 – 11/10 12/15 – 1/10 Short-day:1015 Y or W

Granix (sweet / Vidalia)

 1″, but* 12″ 6 months *Thin as green onions until 5″ apart, then grow as bulb onionsFertilize regularly with bloodmeal

Need nitrogen and well-draining soil, else will rot

Bulbs are ready to harvest when 50% or more of the tops have fallen over

After harvest, remove greens and sun-dry for 4-5 hours

Never store onions and potatoes together
Parsnips 12/15 – 12/31 2/2 – 2/16 7/10 – 9/30 8/25 – 10/15 70 days Seeds take 21 days to germinate–shallow, constant moistureLove earthworm castings

Cut tops off to store
Peas 1/19 – 3/2 9/1 – 9/15 60 days Need trellis support
Peppers 2/15 – 3/15 4/1 – 5/1 5/15 – 6/15 7/1 – 8/1 12″ – 18″ 2′ Start seeds indoors; transplant onlyYellow do not do well in Texas

Harvest w/ scissors or a knife else will damage plant
Potato n/a 2/14 – 3/15 n/a 7/20 – 8/15 LaSoda (best)Kennebec

Yukon Gold

 12″ 3′ 3 months Cut seeds into quarters (ensure 1 eye per piece); dust pieces with sulphur and let sit 1 week.  Harvest when lavender flower develops on leaves and tops start to lean
Pumpkin n/a n/a 6/15 (large)7/15 (small) 2′ 8′ Actino & ActinovateKeep 3″ – 4″ of stem when harvesting
Radish 2/2 – 4/13 9/1 – 11/1 Icicle 1″ 12″ 25 days
Spinach 1/12* – 3/12* 2/14 – 3/15 6/29* – 9/12* 8/1 – 10/15 In order–coolest to hottest:Bloomsdale

Melody

Tyee

Malobar (summer)

 4″ 15″ 36 days *Soak seeds in water in fridge for 3 days before planting.Recommend starting indoors and transplanting
Squash (both Summer and Winter 3/21 – 5/1 7/15 – 8/5 Winter squash can store for 4-6 monthsSummer 7-10 days
Sweet Potato n/a 4/10 – 5/11 n/a n/a Puerto RicanDon’t grow Centennial! 18″ 3′ 100 days Wet/wet plant slipsPlant with Marigolds

Leaves are edible at all times

Ready to harvest when leaves go limp

Lets skins toughen in sun about an hour after digging out
Tomatillo 4/1 – 5/1 n/a n/a 2′ 2′ 80 days Plant, care like tomato
Tomato 1/2 – 1/30 3/15 – 4/1 4/1 – 5/1 7/15 – 7/30 BrandywineCelebrity

Carnival

Merced

Juliet

Super Sioux

BHN444 (best for canning)

 2′ 3′ Start seeds indoors; transplant wet/wet with the following in the hole:Soft Rock Phosphate, Worm Castings, crushed egg shells, and

Rabbit Hill Tomato & Pepper food

Also Epsom Salt if in clay soil

Keep leaves trimmed so never touching the ground

Stake young plants; + install tall, sturdy tomato cages

Use drip irrigation only–don’t get leaves wet when watering

Foliar Spray with Compost Tea once a week until blooms appear;

Once blooms appear, add 1 TB Liquid Kelp to compost tea, and

side dress with Tomato/Pepper Food

Tomatoes only bloom between 55° and 92°

Do Not Compost Tomato Vines!
Turnip 2/10 – 3/1 8/25 – 10/15 Purple Top White Globe 4″ 30″ 45 days
Watermelon 3/25 – 5/1 7/1 – 8/1 Moon & StarsCrimson Sweet

Black Diamond

 2′ 6′ 75 days Don’t water 2 weeks before harvesting