9 Best Vegetables To Grow In Texas In 2023

Author: Saiqa Najeeb
Last Updated On: July 24, 2023

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Are you a Texan with a green thumb or a complete beginner, confused about which vegetables to grow in your region? Well, you don’t have to think so hard, as we’ve compiled a bunch of veggies that grow best in Texas.

With its diverse climate, rich soil, and abundant sunshine, Texas offers a unique opportunity to cultivate a bountiful and vibrant vegetable garden. To get the most out of your gardening adventure, stay with us and explore an insightful listicle of the best vegetables to grow in Texas.

1

Beet

Varieties: Red Ace, Detroit Dark Red S.T., Red Cloud, Warrior

Life Cycle: Annual, Biennial

Beets are one of the best vegetables to grow in Texas. They grow best in full sunlight to partial shade and prefer rich, moist, and well-drained soil. In shady areas, they take longer to mature to a harvestable size. Beets are an early-spring crop that can be grown for a second time in midsummer to produce a maximum harvest. The best part about beets is that their roots as well as leaves are edible, ensuring exceptional productivity from small spaces.

While planting beets, sow the seeds directly in the ground for best results, as transplanting can disturb its roots. Space the plants from 2 to 3 inches apart. Beets usually take 50 to 80 days after sprouting till the harvest. The harvest is ready when the plants are 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter.

2

Broccoli

Varieties: Everst, Marathon, Heritage, Liberty, Sultan, Triathlon, Patriot, Signal,

Life Cycle: Biennial, Perennial

Broccoli can be sown in spring or autumn as a cool-season crop, but growing broccoli in the autumn is typically simpler due to the cooler temperatures. Broccoli performs best when grown in full sun in nitrogen-rich, alkaline soil with good drainage. After flowering, remove the flowering stems when the blooms begin to develop seed pods. This will save the plant’s energy or resources for more leafing up.

Seeds or stem cuttings can be used to propagate the plant. It takes around 50 to 85 days after planting, for the crowns to get ready for harvesting. Spring-planted broccoli should be harvested when temperatures are regularly between 60 and 65°F during the day to avoid bolting. Broccoli is a frost-tolerant plant, although the larger crowns of fall-planted broccoli should be harvested before a strong freeze.

Related: Growing broccoli in containers

3

Carrot

Varieties: Big Shot, Choctaw, Navajo, Sugar Snax, Candy Stix, Vita-Sweet, SCR 7180, Caropak, SCR 7248, Cheyenne,

Life Cycle: Annual, Biennial

carrots are also one of the best vegetables to grow in Texas. Carrots prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade, and damp neutral to slightly acidic sandy loams. Clay soils that are heavy, compacted, and poorly drained can cause roots to branch and twist. Keep the soil moist, as dry soil can result in tough, bitter carrots. When fertilizing, keep in mind that too much nitrogen can lead the plant to focus its energy on leaf growth rather than root growth.

Carrots are cool-weather vegetables that may be gathered during spring, summer, and autumn. They are often planted in spring or autumn gardens and can be picked throughout spring, summer, and autumn. The optimal time to harvest carrots is largely determined by when you sow your seeds and the sort of carrot you’re cultivating.

4

Cucumber

Varieties:

Slicer: Conquistador, Slice Nice, Dasher II, Daytona, Sprint 440 II, General Lee, Indy, Pointsett 76, Raider, Panther, Slice Master, Supersett, Tunderbird,
Turbo Pickling: Calypso, Carolina, Jackson, Royal, Fancypak M, Flurry

Life cycle: Annual

Cucumber thrives in full sun and moist, rich soil that drains well. It prefers a somewhat acidic pH. It has high water requirements and requires regular moisture for healthy growth, but it also needs good drainage. To avoid fungal illnesses, keep the leaves dry while watering. It should be noted that cucumber plants growing vertically lose moisture more quickly.

Plant the cucumber seeds or transplants in the garden after the last frost. Thin the plants when they reach the size of 4 inches. You can enjoy the cucumber harvests around 55 days after planting seeds. Also, remember to pick all the mature cucumbers as they will signal to stop production if they’re left on a vine.

5

Lettuce

Varieties:

Crisp Head: Great Lakes 659 MT,
Mission Loose Leaf: Flame, Grand Rapids, Red Sails, Salad Bowl, Waldeman’s Green, Prizehead, Two Star,
Butterhead: Buttercrunch
Romaine: Valmine, Paris Island

Life Cycle: Annual

Lettuce is also among one of the best vegetables to grow in Texas. Lettuce thrives in somehow cooler temperatures of spring and fall. As a general rule of thumb, the best time to plant lettuce in Texas is from January 20 to March 32 and September 1 to November 1. While planting lettuce make sure to space the plants from 12 to 15 inches apart, and even further in case of bigger varieties such as romaine lettuce.

They require consistent moisture for abundant growth. Dry soil and an increase in temperature can cause the lettuce to flower and bolt resulting in the bitter taste of leaves and reduced leaf production. You can protect the plants from excessive heat by building a shade structure above your lettuce plants.

Related: Growing lettuce indoors

6

Pepper

Varieties:

Bell: Aladdin, Capistrano, Camelot X3R, Early Sunsation, Jupiter, Pip, Red Knight, Summersweet 840, Taurus, Valiant, X3R Wizard
Jalapeno: Coyama, Grande, Mitla, Ole, Perfecto, TAM Mild-1, TAM Veracruz, Tula, Tulleon, Summer Heat 5000, Summer Heat 6000, X3R-Ixtapa, Spp 7603
Serrano: Fiesta, Tampico, Tuxtlas Cayenne: Mesilla Anaheim: Sonara

Life Cycle: Annual, Perennial

Peppers are a warm-season crop that thrives in temperatures ranging from 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Peppers perform badly in temperatures ranging from 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Across the state, 80 to 90 percent of the peppers are direct planted, although transplanting is becoming more common because transplants enable earlier harvest. Bell peppers grown from direct seed are harvested 110 to 120 days after they are first planted, while peppers grown from transplants are harvested 75 to 85 days later.

Related: Growing Peppers indoors

7

Onion

Varieties:

Short Day: Yellow – Chula Vista, Cougar, Diamante, Encino, Jaguar, Linda Vista, Marquesa, Mercedes, Riojas, Sweet Sunrise, TX 1015, 6996, Red – Rio, Rio Santiago, White – Diamante, Krystal, Texas Early White
Intermediate Day: Yellow – Caballero, Cimarron , Riviera , Sierra Blanca, Utopia, Yula Red – Fuego White – Alabaster, Duro, Spano,
Long Day: Yellow – Armada, Blanco Duro, Capri, Durango, El Charo, Ole’, Seville, Sweet Perfection,Valdez, Vega, Vaquero, Red – Tango White – Sterling

Life Cycle: Perennial

Onions are also one of the best vegetables to grow in Texas. They can be grown from seed, either indoors or outdoors, or from sets or bulbs to get a head start on the growing season. To produce a mature crop before the autumn frost, onions in cold climates must be started within 10 to 12 weeks before the average last frost date or started from sets or bulbs. Plant seeds 34 inches deep in loose, moist soil, whether indoors or outdoors. After seedlings emerge in the garden, thin them to 3-4 inches apart. Transplant seeds started indoors in the garden a few weeks before the normal last frost date—onions may withstand mild frost.

Related: Growing onions in containers

8

Spinach

Yellow – Chula Vista, Cougar, Diamante, Encino, Jaguar, Linda Vista, Marquesa, Mercedes, Riojas, Sweet Sunrise, TX 1015, 6996 Red – Rio, Rio Santiago,
White – Diamante, Krystal, Texas Early White

Life Cycle: Annual

Spinach grows best in damp rich, well-drained soil in full sun to moderate shade–it can withstand 3-4 hours of direct sunlight each day, and some shade can be advantageous in hot weather. Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and 2-3 inches apart. Plant seed directly in the soil in early spring for spring crops, or start indoors 8 weeks before the first frost for later transplant. Plants for autumn harvests can be started indoors early or directly seeded after the hottest part of the summer has passed.

Related: Growing spinach indoors

9

Eggplant

Varieties: Black Bell, Black Magic, Epic, Classic, Florida High Bush, Florida Market, Night Shadow Oriental type: Ichibon, Tycoon

Life Cycle: Annual, Perennial

Eggplants can be grown as one of the best vegetables to grow in Texas.Eggplant is a cold-sensitive annual or short-lived perennial plant. When the temperature is between 70 and 85 degrees, it grows the fastest. Eggplant grows best on well-drained, fertile sandy loam soils with a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Pull out all weeds and till the soil to a depth of 6 to 10 inches. The higher the organic matter content of the soil, the better, so if possible, apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost.

Ready for planting?

So, you have explored the list of best vegetables to grow in Texas. Now is the time to get started with your vegetable gardening adventure.

Nothing can beat the joy of harvesting your veggies from your own backyard. This list has helped you save time and headache of choosing the right veggies. Pick your favorite ones, check out their detailed growing guide and you’re ready to enjoy nutritious veggie harvests.