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 1
    fall: August 1 - September 1

Beans, Yellow Bush (Phaseolus vulgaris var. humilis)
Goldcrop, Improved Golden Wax
Planting dates:
    spring: March 20 - May 1
    fall: August 1 - September 1

Beans, Pinto (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Improved Pinto
Planting dates:
    spring: March 20 - May 1
    fall: August 1 - September 1

Beans, Snap Pole (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder
Planting dates:
    spring: March 20 - April 20
    fall: 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 1
    fall: 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 1
    fall:
    seed: August 1 - August 15
    transplants: August 20 - September 15

Brussels Sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)
Prince Marvel, Royal Marvel
    Planting dates:(fall only)
    seed: August 1 - August 15
    transplants: 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 1
    fall:
    seed: August 1 - August 15
    transplants: 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 1
    fall: 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 1
    fall: 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 1
    fall: August 15 - September 5

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)
Snow Crown
Planting dates:
    spring: transplants, February 15 - March 1
    fall:
    seed: August 1 - August 15
    transplants: August 20 - September 15

Chard, Swiss (Beta vulgaris var. cicla)
Rhubarb (red color), Lucullus, Fordhook
Planting dates:
    spring: February 10 - March 10
    fall: August 1 - September 1

Collards (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
Blue Max, Georgia
Planting dates:
    spring: February 10 - April 1
    fall: 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 1
    fall: August 1 - August 15

Eggplant (Solanum melongena var. esculentum)
Tycoon (oriental), Florida Market
Planting dates:
    spring: transplants, April 5 - May 1
    fall:
    seed: June 15 - July 1
    transplants: 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 10
    fall: August 25 - October 1

Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
Dwarf Blue Curled, Blue Knight
Planting dates:
    spring: February 10 - March 10
    fall: August 25 - October 1

Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)
Grand Duke
Planting dates:
    spring:
    seed: February 10 - March 1
    transplants: February 15 - March 1
    fall
    seed, August 1 - August 25

Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum )
American Flag
Planting dates:
    spring: seed, February 10 - February 25
    fall: seed, September 10 - October 1

Lettuce, Butterhead (Lactuca sativa)
spring or fall: Buttercrunch
fall only: Tom Thumb
Planting dates:
    spring: February 10 - March 15
    fall: August 15 - September 10

Lettuce, Head (Lactuca sativa)
Classic, Park's Mission
Planting dates:
    spring: February 10 - March 1
    fall: August 15 - September 1

Lettuce, Leaf (Lactuca sativa)
Salad Bowl, Black Seeded Simpson, Red Sails (red color)
Planting dates:
    spring: February 10 - March 15
    fall: August 15 - September 15

Lettuce, Cos or Romaine (Lactuca sativa)
Romaine
Planting dates:
    spring: February 10 - March 15
    fall: August 15 - September 15

Mustard (Brassica juncea)
Florida Broadleaf, Southern Giant Curled, Tendergreen
Planting dates:
    spring: February 15 - April 1
    fall: August 1 - September 10

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
Blondy, Lee, Emerald, Clemson Spineless
Planting dates:
    spring: April 5 - June 1
    fall: 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 1
    transplants: 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 5
    fall: August 1 - October 1

Peas, English (Pisum sativum)
Little Marvel, Wando, Dwarf Gray Sugar
Planting dates:
    spring: February 10 - March 1
    fall: 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 1
    fall: 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 20
    fall: 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 1
    fall: 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 1
    fall: 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 1
    fall: 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 1
    fall: 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 20
    fall:
    for large pumpkins June 15 - July 15
    for 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 1
    fall: September 1 - November 1

Rutabaga (Brassica napus var. napobrassica)
American Purple Top
Planting dates:
    spring: February 1 - April 1
    fall: August 1 - October 15

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
Melody, Coho, Iron Duke
Planting dates:
    spring: February 10 - March 15
    fall: August 1 - October 15

Squash, Summer(Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo)
Multipik, Dixie, Sun Drops, Burpee's Butterstick
Planting dates:
    spring: March 25 - May 1
    fall: 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 1
    fall: 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 1
    fall: July 1 - August 10

Squash, Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo)
green: Senator, President
yellow: Goldrush
Planting dates:
    spring: March 25 - May 1
    fall: 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 VF1F2SA
    indeterminate: 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 15
    fall: transplants, July 1 - July 25

Tomatoes, Paste (Lycopersicon esculentum)
indeterminate: Roma VF, San Marzano
Planting dates:
    spring: transplants, March 25 - April 15
    fall: 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 15
    fall: 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 10
    fall: 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 1
    fall: 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