Planting Guide

Month-by-month guidance for growing in Lubbock, Texas (Zone 7b). Tap a month to see what to plant, harvest, and do in the garden.

January

Planning season — dream big and prepare for spring

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Herbs: Parsley, Thyme, Oregano, Chives, Basil, Rosemary
  • Vegetables: Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Mustards, Peppers, Spinach, Tomato, Tomatillo
  • Flowers: Alyssum, Nasturtium, Calendula

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Cold hardy greens
  • Onion plants
  • Bare-root strawberries
  • Fruit & nut trees
  • Ornamental: Roses, Live Christmas trees, Woody vines & ground covers

🥗 Harvest

  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Spinach

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Inventory and order seeds
  • Make or buy potting soil
  • Clean or buy new seedling containers
  • Build or buy cold frames
  • Clean & repair garden tools
  • Turn compost
  • Add mulch to bare spots
  • Fertilize cool crops every 4-6 weeks
  • Check seedlings daily and water as needed

February

Seeds stir — time to start your warm-season favorites indoors

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Herbs: Basil, Catnip, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Fennel, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lemon Grass, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Rosemary
  • Vegetables: Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustards, Peppers, Spinach, Tomato, Tomatillo
  • Ornamental: Most annual & perennial flowers, Ornamental grasses

🥬 Start Seeds Outside

  • Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Kale, Kohlrabi, Mustard, Parsley, Peas, Radish, Spinach, Turnip
  • Ornamental: Iris & Lily Bulbs, Canna Bulbs

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Asparagus
  • Potatoes
  • Fruit & nut trees
  • Ornamental: Roses, Shrubs, Woody vines & ground covers, Cedar, Pine

🥗 Harvest

  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Prune fruit trees
  • Divide ornamental grasses
  • Prune summer flowering shrubs
  • Have cold frames or row covers handy for new seedlings and transplants
  • Transplant seedlings to larger pots if needed
  • Hill up potatoes
  • Thin garden seedlings
  • Fertilize winter annual flowers
  • Check cool-season crops for pests

March

Spring awakens — cool-season crops thrive

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Herbs: Basil, Catnip, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Fennel, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lemon Grass, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme
  • Vegetables: Cucumber, Lemon Grass, Melons, Summer Squash, Winter Squash
  • Ornamental: Most annual & perennial flowers, Ornamental grasses

🥬 Start Seeds Outside

  • Carrot, Chives, Leek, Parsley, Parsnip, Peas, Radish, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Turnip

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Blackberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chives, Collards, Fruit Trees, Grapes, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard, Raspberries, Strawberries
  • Ornamental: Ferns, Hedges, Iris & Lilies, Mums, Ornamental Grasses, Roses, Sedum, Frost Tolerant annuals, Most Perennial Flowers

🥗 Harvest

  • Asparagus
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Add compost to beds
  • Divide ornamental grasses
  • Have cold frames or row covers handy to cover new seedlings and transplants
  • Transplant seedlings to larger pots if needed
  • Hill up potatoes
  • Thin garden seedlings
  • Fertilize irises for better blooms
  • Fertilize seedlings with diluted fish emulsion or seaweed extract

April

Frost-free (usually!) — warm-season planting begins

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Herbs: Lemon Grass, Marjoram, Rosemary
  • Vegetables (for fall): Summer Squash, Watermelon, Winter Squash
  • Note: Sow in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly in the ground

🥬 Start Seeds Outside

  • Beans, Corn, Cucumber, Dill, Eggplant, Melon, Pepper, Pumpkin, Radish, Squash, Sweet Potato*, Tomato, Tomatillo*
  • Cowpeas*
  • Ornamental: Annual Flowers, Annual vines, Ornamental Grasses
  • * plant after danger of last frost

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Cucumber*, Leek, Parsley, Pepper*, Squash*, Tomato*, Tomatillo*
  • Ornamental: Caladiums*, Most Annual Herbs*, Warm Season Flowers*, Perennial Vines, Tropical Vines*
  • * plant after danger of last frost

🥗 Harvest

  • Asparagus
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Average last frost date: April 15 - May 8
  • Have cold frames or row covers handy for late frost
  • Hill up potatoes
  • Thin garden seedlings
  • Mulch around new plants
  • Pinch off blossoms on new strawberries
  • Tune-up irrigation systems
  • Fertilize seedlings with diluted fish emulsion

May

Garden in full swing — plant heat-lovers and enjoy spring harvests

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Herbs: Cat Grass
  • Vegetables (for fall): Eggplant, Tomato

🥬 Start Seeds Outside

  • Herbs: Basil, Borage, Catnip, Chamomile, Chives, Cilantro, Cumin, Dill, Fennel, Marjoram, Mint, Oregano, Savory
  • Vegetables: Beans, Cowpeas, Melon, Okra, Pumpkin, Squash, Sweet Potato, Watermelon
  • Ornamental: Sun Flowers, Zinnias

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Annual Herbs, Eggplant, Lavender, Lemon Grass, Parsley, Peppers, Rosemary, Watermelon
  • Ornamental: Begonias, Caladiums, Cannas, Coleus, Dahlias, Daisies, Dianthus, Elephant Ears, Geraniums, Gladiolus, Ice Plant, Marigold, Nasturtium, Petunia, Portulaca, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Verbena, Zinnias

🥗 Harvest

  • Blackberries
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Peas
  • Radish
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries
  • Swiss Chard
  • Turnips

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Remove cold frames / frost covers
  • Create structures or plant tall plants to provide afternoon shade for vegetables
  • Thin garden seedlings
  • Mulch around new plants
  • Transition beds from cool-season to warm-season crops
  • Cut back and/or divide perennial herbs
  • Water new transplants daily
  • Fertilize warm-season vegetables (except beans) every two weeks

June

Summer heat arrives — water deeply, harvest abundantly

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Vegetables (for fall): Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Kale, Kohlrabi, Peppers, Swiss Chard, Tomato, Tomatillo

🥬 Start Seeds Outside

  • Herbs: Basil, Borage, Oregano, Rosemary
  • Vegetables: Eggplant, Okra, Summer Squash, Watermelon
  • Ornamental: Marigold, Nasturtium, Sunflower, Zinnia

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Most Annual Herbs, Lemon Grass, Rosemary, Sage
  • Ornamental: Citronella, Geranium, Hibiscus, Lantana, Ornamental Grasses, Pentas, Portulaca, Salvia, Succulents, Semi-Tropic & Tropical Plants, Verbena, Yarrow, Zinnia

🥗 Harvest

  • Blackberries
  • Cucumbers
  • Green Beans
  • Onions
  • Peaches
  • Peppers
  • Potatoes
  • Radish
  • Squash
  • Tomatoes

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Provide afternoon shade for vegetables
  • Deadhead annual and perennial flowers
  • Pinch herbs to promote bushy growth
  • Freshen up mulch around woody plants, perennials, and veggies
  • Take softwood cuttings of shrubs to start new plants
  • Start harvesting & collecting seeds for next year's garden
  • Maintain moderate moisture for herbs and vegetables
  • Fertilize warm-season vegetables (except beans) every two weeks

July

Peak summer — maintain what's growing, plan for fall

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Vegetables: Collards, Cucumbers, Spinach, Swiss Chard
  • Ornamental: Dianthus, Daisies, Ornamental cabbages, Nasturtiums, Poppies, Pansies, Snapdragons, Violas

🥬 Start Seeds Outside

  • Edibles: Beans, Corn, Cucumber, Melon, Okra, Peas, Southern Peas, Summer Squash, Watermelon, Green Onions, Shallots
  • Ornamental: Amaranthus, Cosmos, Gaillardia, Marigold, Portulaca, Sunflower, Zinnia

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Peppers
  • Ornamental: Cosmos, Daisies, Lantana, Marigolds, Ornamental Grasses, Portulaca, Salvias, Sunflower, Wildflowers, Zinnia

🥗 Harvest

  • Blackberries
  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Green Beans
  • Eggplant
  • Okra
  • Parsnips
  • Peaches
  • Peppers
  • Southern Peas
  • Squash
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Tomatillo
  • Tomatoes

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Provide afternoon shade for vegetables
  • Deadhead annual and perennial flowers
  • Pinch herbs to promote bushy growth
  • Freshen up mulch around woody plants, perennials, and veggies
  • Start harvesting & collecting seeds for next year's garden
  • Divide Irises & Daylilies
  • Cut back non-fruiting blackberry canes
  • Fertilize warm-season vegetables (except beans) every two weeks

August

Second spring begins — start fall and winter crops

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Edibles: Collards, Lettuce, Spinach
  • Ornamental: Dianthus, Ornamental cabbages, Pansies, Snapdragons, Violas

🥬 Start Seeds Outside

  • Edibles: Beans, Beets, Carrots, Green Onions, Kale, Kohlrabi, Potatoes, Spinach, Swiss Chard
  • Ornamental: Cosmos, Daisies, Four O' Clocks, Marigold, Mexican Sunflowers

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Eggplant, Kale, Kohlrabi, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
  • Ornamental: Dusty Miller, Lantana, Salvias, Sweet Potato Vine

🥗 Harvest

  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Green Beans
  • Eggplant
  • Okra
  • Parsnips
  • Peppers
  • Southern Peas
  • Squash
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Tomatillo
  • Tomatoes
  • Watermelon

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Provide afternoon shade for vegetables
  • Cut back annual flowers to promote new growth and blooms
  • Remove spent summer annuals
  • Freshen up mulch around woody plants, perennials, and vegetables
  • Continue harvesting & collecting seeds for next year's garden
  • Prune roses by one third to promote fall blooms
  • Fertilize warm-season vegetables (except beans) every two weeks

September

Fall planting time — cool-season crops return

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Edibles: Collards, Lettuce, Spinach
  • Ornamental: Dianthus, Ornamental cabbages, Pansies, Snapdragons, Violas

🥬 Start Seeds Outside

  • Herbs: Chives, Cilantro, Green Onions, Lavender, Leeks, Oregano, Stevia
  • Vegetables: Arugula, Beets, Carrots, Garlic Bulbs, Mustard, Potatoes, Radish, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Turnips
  • Ornamental: Wild flowers

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Eggplant, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard
  • Ornamental: Dianthus, Daisies, Ornamental cabbages, Nasturtiums, Poppies, Pansies, Snapdragons, Violas

🥗 Harvest

  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Green Beans
  • Eggplant
  • Okra
  • Parsnips
  • Peppers
  • Pumpkins
  • Southern Peas
  • Squash
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Tomatillo
  • Tomatoes
  • Watermelon

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Remove spent summer annuals
  • Add compost and prepare beds for Fall
  • Continue harvesting & collecting seeds for next year's garden
  • Continue moving houseplants to lower light areas to adjust to inside lighting for winter
  • Divide & transplant iris and daylillies
  • Only fertilize active growing plants
  • Replenish mulch to at least 3in thick

October

Garlic goes in — prepare for next year's harvest

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Edibles: No Recommendations
  • Ornamental: Asters, Dianthus, Pansies/Violas

🥬 Start Seeds Outside

  • Herbs: Borage, Chives, Cilantro, Green Onions, Fennel, Oregano, Sorrel
  • Vegetables: Arugula, Beets, Bok Choy, Carrots, Garlic Bulbs, Mustard, Radish, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Turnips
  • Ornamental: Spring Bulbs, Wild flowers

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Kale, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard
  • TREES
  • Ornamental: Dianthus, Cabbage, Pansies, Perennials, Roses, Snapdragons, Violas

🥗 Harvest

  • Apples
  • Corn
  • Lettuce
  • Pumpkins
  • Spinach
  • Summer Vegetables
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Tomatoes
  • Winter Squash

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Average first frost date: Oct 15th - Nov 5th
  • Have cold frames or row covers handy to extend the growing season
  • Remove spent summer annuals
  • Continue harvesting & collecting seeds for next year's garden
  • Inspect houseplants & tropicals for pests and begin to move inside
  • Divide & transplant iris and daylillies
  • Water roots deeply before risk of freeze
  • Replenish mulch to at least 3in thick

November

First frosts arrive — protect tender plants, enjoy cool-season greens

🌱 Start Seeds Inside

  • Edibles: No Recommendations
  • Ornamental: Asters, Dianthus, Snapdragons

🥬 Start Seeds Outside

  • Edibles: Perennial Herbs
  • Ornamental: Spring Bulbs, Wild flowers

🌿 Transplant Outside

  • Edibles: No recommendations
  • TREES
  • Ornamental: Roses

🥗 Harvest

  • Apples
  • Arugula
  • Beets
  • Lettuce
  • Kale
  • Pumpkins
  • Radish
  • Potatoes
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard
  • Turnips
  • Winter Squash

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Average first frost date: Oct 15th - Nov 5th
  • Install cold frames or row covers to extend the growing season
  • Remove spent summer annuals
  • Continue harvesting & collecting seeds for next year's garden
  • Inspect houseplants & tropicals for pests and move remaining frost sensitive plants inside
  • Divide & transplant iris and daylillies
  • Clean & repair garden tools
  • Clean and store tomato cages, trellises, pots, and planters
  • Map out garden layout
  • Prepare garden beds for winter: add fertilizer to soil, cover with mulch
  • Water roots deeply before risk of freeze
  • Wrap young trees if threat of hard freeze
  • Cut back perennials after first freeze

December

Rest and reflect — the garden sleeps, but planning begins

🥬 Continue Harvesting (protected)

  • Kale (frost makes it sweeter)
  • Collards
  • Spinach (cold frames)
  • Carrots (can stay in ground)
  • Leeks

📋 Garden Tasks

  • Review the year's successes and failures
  • Start planning next year's garden
  • Browse seed catalogs
  • Maintain cold frames and covers
  • Build compost bins for next year
  • Enjoy the slower pace!

🌱 Start Planning For

  • Seed orders (January)
  • Garden layout changes
  • New varieties to try
  • Infrastructure improvements

About This Guide

This planting guide is tailored for Lubbock, Texas (USDA Zone 7b). Our average last frost is around April 3, and first frost around November 1, giving us about 212 frost-free growing days. Always watch local weather forecasts and be ready to protect plants from late spring or early fall frosts.

For detailed planting dates and varieties, see the Lubbock Master Gardeners resources.