When to Plant in Dallas, TX

Dallas sits in North Texas — Zone 8a with a typical last frost around March 18. Hot, dry summers routinely top 100°F, and while winters are mostly mild, periodic Arctic blasts can bring hard freezes. The gardening window is aggressive but rewarding.

Dallas gardeners use a two-season strategy: a productive spring garden from March through May, and an even better fall garden from August through November. Summer heat largely shuts down vegetable production, though okra and heat-tolerant crops thrive.

What to plant now in Dallas

Spring: After March 18 last frost — tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, cucumbers.
Late Spring (May–Jun): Okra, sweet potatoes, and southern peas as heat intensifies.
Fall: Often the best season — broccoli, lettuce, kale, spinach, carrots, and fall tomatoes.
Winter: Garlic, cool-season greens with row cover, and cover crops.

In Dallas (243 frost-free days, a very long season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.

Month by month in Dallas

Month	What to do
January	Start onion transplants indoors. Order seeds. Plant spinach under protection.
February	Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors. Direct sow spinach outdoors.
March	After March 13 — transplant tomatoes and peppers. Plant beans and squash.
April	Full spring garden. Plant cucumbers and corn.
May	Plant okra. Mulch heavily as heat builds.
June	Harvest spring crops. Summer heat arrives. Plant southern peas.
July	Peak heat. Water deeply. Start fall seeds indoors mid-July.
August	Plant fall tomatoes — critical month. Direct sow fall beans.
September	Plant broccoli, kale, lettuce, spinach transplants.
October	Full fall garden. Plant garlic.
November	Harvest fall crops. Protect from hard freezes.
December	Cool-season crops possible with protection.

Frost dates for Dallas ZIP codes

ZIP	Last spring frost (50%)	First fall frost (50%)	Zone
75217	March 12	November 18	8b
75228	March 12	November 15	8b
75227	March 12	November 15	8b
75220	March 12	November 15	8b
75206	March 12	November 15	8b

FAQ

When is the last frost date in Dallas, TX?

Dallas's average last frost date is around March 18. Start warm-season seeds indoors in late January and plant outdoors after mid-March.

What grows best in Dallas?

Spring: tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans. Summer: okra and sweet potatoes. Fall (often the best season): broccoli, kale, lettuce, carrots, spinach, and fall tomatoes.

When should I plant fall tomatoes in Dallas?

Plant fall tomatoes in August — this is critical timing. Get transplants in the ground by mid-August for a November harvest before first frost.

How do I handle Dallas summer heat?

Mulch 3–4 inches deep, water deeply at the base of plants, and switch to heat-tolerant crops. Okra, sweet potatoes, and southern peas actually thrive in Dallas heat.

How does Plan My Garden help Dallas gardeners?

Enter your Dallas zip code for a personalized week-by-week planting schedule built around North Texas's two-season growing calendar.