Growing Calendar

MenuClose

Richardson, Texas planting calendar and frost dates

Richardson is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 7 and the first fall frost around November 21, giving about 259 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 8b
Typical last frost
March 7
Typical first frost
November 21
Frost-free season
259 days

Frost dates in Richardson

Last spring frost

  • February 18Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • March 7Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • March 29Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • November 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • November 21Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • December 9Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 259 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around February 24 and returns around December 4.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Richardson, 3 miles WSW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Richardson shares this station with Plano, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.

What to plant each month in Richardson

  1. January

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  2. February

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  3. March

    Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  4. April

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini

  7. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini

  8. October

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips

  9. November

    Start indoors: onions

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  10. December

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Richardson

All 3 of Richardson's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Richardson, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
750808bRichardson, 3 mi WSWMar 7Nov 21
750818bRichardson, 3 mi WSWMar 7Nov 21
750828bRichardson, 3 mi WSWMar 7Nov 21

Richardson also supplies the frost dates for Plano, Garland, Allen and Rowlett, so their planting calendars match Richardson's.

Planting dates for popular crops in Richardson

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 8 to 15
Strawberries—Jan 24 to Feb 7—
LettuceJan 10 to 24Feb 28 to Mar 14Aug 22 to Sep 26
CilantroJan 24 to Feb 7Mar 7 to 14—
BasilFeb 1 to 15Mar 22 to 29—
Potatoes—Feb 17 to 24Aug 1 to 8
Garlic—Jan 24 to Feb 7Nov 21 to Dec 5
OnionsNov 15 to Dec 27Feb 7 to 21—
CucumbersFeb 22 to Mar 8Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 22 to Sep 5
PumpkinsFeb 22 to Mar 8Mar 22 to Apr 5—
PeppersJan 4 to Feb 1Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 1 to 29
Carrots—Feb 14 to Mar 7Aug 29 to Sep 19
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 16 to 23—
WatermelonsFeb 15 to Mar 1Mar 22 to Apr 5—
Sweet Corn—Mar 7 to 21Aug 15 to 29
Green Beans—Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 29 to Sep 5
ZucchiniFeb 22 to Mar 8Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 29 to Sep 12
BroccoliDec 20 to Jan 10Feb 7 to 21Sep 5 to Oct 3
Peas—Jan 24 to Feb 7Aug 29 to Sep 12
SpinachJan 24 to 31Feb 28 to Mar 14Sep 12 to Oct 17
Sunflowers—Mar 7 to 28—
ZinniasApr 9 to 16May 7 to 21—
Tulips——Oct 10 to Dec 5
Daffodils——Oct 10 to Nov 21
Grass Seed—Jan 24 to Feb 7Oct 10 to 24

Nearby cities

Planting in TexasAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Richardson

Questions

When is the last frost in Richardson?

Around March 7 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Richardson. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 29.

What planting zone is Richardson in?

USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Richardson?

Start seeds indoors January 25 to February 8 and set plants out March 22 to April 5; the safest date to plant out is after March 29.

When is the first frost in Richardson?

Around November 21 in a typical year, and before November 2 about 1 year in 10.