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 HorticulturistPlanting 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.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES FOR 1996 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE LISTS OF RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS FOR NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
- 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
fall:
indeterminate: Champion VFNT, Quick Pick VFNT, Simba VFNT, First Lady VFNT, Superfantastic VFNdeterminate: 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
- 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