Recommended Vegetable Cultivars For North Central Texas
Prepared by:
Dr. Nancy Roe Extension Horticulturist
Dr. Jerry Parsons Extension Horticulturist
Dr. Larry Stein Extension Horticulturist
Dr. Sam Cotner Extension Horticulturist
Planting dates apply to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and refer to the planting of seed unless otherwise indicated. South of the Metroplex (i.e. in the Corsicana area), you can plant 5 days earlier in the spring. North of the Metroplex (i.e. in the Wichita Falls area and along the Red River), spring planting should be 5 days later than the dates shown.
Listed cultivars were selected for their productivity, resistance to common diseases and adaptability to north central Texas conditions. Proper watering, fertilization, weed control, etc., are necessary, however, if the desired results are to be achieved. Cultivars are listed at random, not in order of preference.
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
Jersey Giant, UC 157
Planting dates: (spring only) crowns, February 15 - March 1
Beans, Snap Bush (Phaseolus vulgaris var. humilis)
Blue Lake 274, Top Crop, Tendercrop, Contender, Tendergreen, Derby
Planting dates:
spring: March 20 - May 1fall: August 1 - September 1
Beans, Yellow Bush (Phaseolus vulgaris var. humilis)
Goldcrop, Improved Golden Wax
Planting dates:
spring: March 20 - May 1fall: August 1 - September 1
Beans, Pinto (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Improved Pinto
Planting dates:
spring: March 20 - May 1fall: August 1 - September 1
Beans, Snap Pole (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder
Planting dates:
spring: March 20 - April 20fall: August 1 - August 15
Beans, Lima Bush (Phaseolus limensis var. limenanus)
Henderson Baby Bush, Jackson Wonder
Planting dates: (spring only) March 20 - April 20
Beans, Lima Pole (Phaseolus limensis)
Florida Speckled, King of the Garden
Planting dates: spring only, March 20 - April 20
Beets (Beta vulgaris)
Pacemaker III
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 1fall: September 1 - September 15
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)
spring only: Premium Crop, Emperor
spring or fall: Green Comet, Galaxy, Packman, Baccus, Early Dawn
Planting dates:
spring: transplants, February 15 - March 1fall: seed: August 1 - August 15transplants: August 20 - September 15
Brussels Sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)
Prince Marvel, Royal Marvel
Planting dates:(fall only)seed: August 1 - August 15transplants: August 20 - September 15
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
spring only: Early Jersey Wakefield
spring or fall: Sanibel, Rapid Ball, Savoy Ace (wrinkled leaves), Ruby Ball (red color)
Planting dates:
spring: transplants, February 15 - March 1fall:seed: August 1 - August 15transplants: August 20 - September 15
Cabbage, Chinese (Brassica pekinensis)
Jade Pagoda, Michihili, China Flash (napa type), China Pride (napa type)
Planting dates:
spring: February 15 - March 1fall: August 10 - September 1
Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis)
hybrids: Magnum 45, Ambrosia, Mission, Explorer, Caravelle, Minnesota Midget (bush type, good in containers)
non-hybrids: Uvalde, Perlita
Planting dates:
spring: April 5 - May 1fall: June 15 - July 1
Carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus)
Royal Chantenay, Burpee's Toudo, Park's Nandor, Danver's 126, Red Cored Chantenay
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 1fall: August 15 - September 5
Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)
Snow Crown
Planting dates:
spring: transplants, February 15 - March 1fall:seed: August 1 - August 15transplants: August 20 - September 15
Chard, Swiss (Beta vulgaris var. cicla)
Rhubarb (red color), Lucullus, Fordhook
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 10fall: August 1 - September 1
Collards (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
Blue Max, Georgia
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - April 1fall: August 1 - September 1
Corn, Sweet (Zea mays var. saccharata)
yellow: Golden Queen, Guadalupe Gold bicolor: Sweet G-90, Honey & Pearls white: Silver Queen, Frontier
Planting dates:
spring: March 20 - May 1 fall: August 1 - August 15
Cucumber, Pickling (Cucumis sativus)
County Fair 87, Liberty, Saladin
Planting dates:
spring: March 20 - May 1 fall: August 1 - August 15
Cucumber, Slicing(Cucumis sativus)
Sweet Success, Sweet Slice, County Fair 87, Burpless, Dasher II, Slicemaster
Planting dates:
spring: March 20 - May 1fall: August 1 - August 15
Eggplant (Solanum melongena var. esculentum)
Tycoon (oriental), Florida Market
Planting dates:
spring: transplants, April 5 - May 1fall: seed: June 15 - July 1transplants: July 1 - July 25
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Texas White
Planting dates:
fall only: cloves, September 15 - October 15
Greens (hybrid of Chinese cabbage x stubble turnip)
Tyfon Holland
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 10fall: August 25 - October 1
Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
Dwarf Blue Curled, Blue Knight
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 10fall: August 25 - October 1
Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)
Grand Duke
Planting dates:
spring: seed: February 10 - March 1 transplants: February 15 - March 1fallseed, August 1 - August 25
Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum )
American Flag
Planting dates:
spring: seed, February 10 - February 25fall: seed, September 10 - October 1
Lettuce, Butterhead (Lactuca sativa)
spring or fall: Buttercrunch
fall only: Tom Thumb
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 15fall: August 15 - September 10
Lettuce, Head (Lactuca sativa)
Classic, Park's Mission
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 1fall: August 15 - September 1
Lettuce, Leaf (Lactuca sativa)
Salad Bowl, Black Seeded Simpson, Red Sails (red color)
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 15fall: August 15 - September 15
Lettuce, Cos or Romaine (Lactuca sativa)
Romaine
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 15fall: August 15 - September 15
Mustard (Brassica juncea)
Florida Broadleaf, Southern Giant Curled, Tendergreen
Planting dates:
spring: February 15 - April 1fall: August 1 - September 10
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
Blondy, Lee, Emerald, Clemson Spineless
Planting dates:
spring: April 5 - June 1fall: July 15 - August 15
Onion, Bulbing (Allium cepa)
yellow: Texas Supersweet (Grano 1015Y), Yellow Granex
red: Red Granex, Burgundy
white: Crystal Wax, White Granex
Planting dates:
seed: sow previous year September 10 - October 1transplants: plant current year February 10 - March 5
Onion, Bunching [Scallions] (Allium cepa)
Beltsville Bunching
Planting dates:
seed: sow current year February 10 - March 1
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Moss Curled, Plain (Italian)
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 5fall: August 1 - October 1
Peas, English (Pisum sativum)
Little Marvel, Wando, Dwarf Gray Sugar
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 1fall: September 1 - October 1
Peas, Edible-Podded (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon)
spring only: Sugar Snap (bush)
spring or fall: Sugar Ann (bush), Sugar Pop (bush), Super Sugar Mel (vine)
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 1fall: September 1 - October 1
Peas, Southern (Vigna unguiculata subspecies unguiculata)
Blackeye #5, Mississippi Silver, Purple Hull, Zipper Cream Crowder, Colossus Crowder
Planting dates:
spring: April 1 - May 20fall: July 1 - August 1
Pepper, Hot (Capsicum annuum var. longum)
Super Chili, Hungarian Yellow Wax, Long Red or SlimCayenne, Hidalgo Serrano, Jalapeno, TAM Mild Jalapeno
Planting dates:
spring: transplants, April 1 - May 1fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25
Pepper, Sweet Bell (Capsicum annuum var. grossum)
green: Big Bertha, Jupiter (mature color: red), SummerSweet 860 (mature color: yellow)
yellow: Golden Summer
purple: Purple Belle
Planting dates:
spring: transplants, April 1 - May 1fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25
Pepper, Sweet Salad (Capsicum annuum var. cerasiforme)
Gypsy, Sweet Pickle, Cubanelle, Top Banana
Planting dates:
spring: transplants, April 1 - May 1fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25
Potato, Irish (Solanum tuberosum)
red: Norland (early season), Red LaSoda (midseason)
white: Kennebec (late season)
Planting dates:
spring: seed pieces, February 15 - March 1fall: seed pieces, July 25 - August 10
Potato, Sweet (Ipomoea batatas)
Jewell, Centennial, Vardaman
Planting dates: (spring only) slips, April 15 - May 15
Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. pepo)
Connecticut Field, Spirit, Small Sugar, Autumn Gold, Jack Be Little (ornamental)
Planting dates:
spring: April 1 - April 20fall: for large pumpkins June 15 - July 15for small pumpkins July 15 - August 15
Radish (Raphanus sativus)
red: Inca, Champion, Cherry Belle
white: White Icicle, Snow Belle
Planting dates:
spring: February 5 - May 1fall: September 1 - November 1
Rutabaga (Brassica napus var. napobrassica)
American Purple Top
Planting dates:
spring: February 1 - April 1fall: August 1 - October 15
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
Melody, Coho, Iron Duke
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 15fall: August 1 - October 15
Squash, Summer(Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo)
Multipik, Dixie, Sun Drops, Burpee's Butterstick
Planting dates:
spring: March 25 - May 1fall: August 1 - August 25
Squash, Summer Pan-Type (Curcurbita pepo var. melopepo)
yellow: Sunburst
white: Patty Pan
green: Peter Pan
Planting dates:
spring: March 25 - May 1fall: August 1 - August 25
Sqaush, Winter (Cucurbita moschata)
Early Butternut, Sweet Mama, Table Ace, Table King Bush Acorn, Cream of the Crop
Planting dates:
spring: March 25 - May 1fall: July 1 - August 10
Squash, Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo)
green: Senator, President
yellow: Goldrush
Planting dates:
spring: March 25 - May 1fall: August 1 - August 25
Note Regarding Tomatoes: Cultivars listed as determinate are the bush type whereas those listed as indeterminate are the vining type. "A" indicates genetic resistance to Alternaria, "F1" to Fusarium wilt race 1, "F2" to Fusarium wilt race 2, "N" to root knot nematodes, "S" to Stemphylium (gray leaf spot), "T" to tobacco mosaic virus, "V" to Verticillium wilt.
Tomatoes, Large-Fruited (Lycopersicon esculentum)
spring:
determinate: Celebrity VFNT, Carnival VFNT, Surefire VF1, President VFNT, Merced VF1F2ST, Heatwave VF1F2SAindeterminate: Champion VFNT, Quick Pick VFNT, Simba VFNT, First Lady VFNT, Superfantastic VFN
fall:
determinate: Surefire VF1, Heatwave VF1F2SA
Planting dates:
spring: transplants, March 25 - April 15fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25
Tomatoes, Paste (Lycopersicon esculentum)
indeterminate: Roma VF, San Marzano
Planting dates:
spring: transplants, March 25 - April 15fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25
Tomatoes, Small-Fruited (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme)
determinate: Small Fry VFN
indeterminate: Porter, Cherry Grande, Sweet 100
Planting dates:
spring: transplants, March 25 - April 15fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25
Turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapifera)
spring or fall: Tokyo Cross, Royal Globe II, White Lady
fall only: Just Right
Planting dates:
spring: February 10 - March 10fall: August 25 - October 15
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
regular: Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby, Royal Jubilee, Royal Sweet, Orange Golden, Star Brite
triploid or seedless (transplants only)
Jack of Hearts, Supersweet 5032, Tiffany
Planting dates:
spring: March 25 - May 1fall: June 15 - July 1
SUMMARY OF CHANGES FOR 1996 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE LISTS OF RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS FOR NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
Vegetables
Cultivar additions:
'Baccus' broccoli
'Early Dawn' broccoli
'Star Brite' watermelon
'Frontier' sweet corn (replaces 'How Sweet It Is')
Fruit, Nut, and Berry
Cultivar additions:
'Blanc Du Bois' hybrid grape
'Arapaho' thornless blackberry
'Fayette' very late peach
Cultivar deletions:
'Starkspur' apple
'Smothee' apple
Rootstock additions:
M-26 dwarf apple
M-7 semi-dwarf apple