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Zone 8B — February

What to Plant in February in Zone 8B

February in Zone 8B: 135 crops to start indoors, 108 to plant or direct sow outside, and 2 entering harvest window. Last frost averages March 20. Reference city: Houston, TX.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
135 Start Indoors
108 Plant Outside
2 Harvest
Frost window: Active

This is when frost can still happen in Zone 8B. The last spring frost typically lands on March 20, with a 10% chance of frost as late as April 8. Plan transplants with this window in mind.

See full Zone 8B frost outlook →

Start Indoors in February

Plant Type Start Indoors Transplant Outside Harvest Window
Alaska Early Pea legume Feb 20 Feb 27 Apr 23 – Apr 28
Black Salsify root vegetable Feb 13 Feb 20 Perennial — see plant page
Broad Windsor Fava Bean legume Feb 20 Feb 27 May 13 – May 23
Caraway herb Feb 20 Feb 27 Perennial — see plant page
Cascadia Sugar Snap Pea legume Feb 20 Feb 27 May 3 – May 5
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage brassica Feb 13 Feb 27 May 13
Chervil herb Feb 20 Feb 27 Apr 3 – Apr 13
Crimson Cherry Rhubarb Root vegetable Feb 13 Feb 20 Perennial — see plant page
Dandelion herb Feb 20 Feb 27 Perennial — see plant page
Delicatesse Blue Kohlrabi brassica Feb 20 Feb 27 Apr 23 – Apr 28
Delicatesse White Kohlrabi brassica Feb 20 Feb 27 Apr 23 – Apr 28
Dutch Yellow Shallots allium Feb 13 Feb 20 May 21 – Jun 20
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage brassica Feb 13 Feb 27 May 3 – May 13
French Red Shallots allium Feb 13 Feb 20 May 21 – Jun 20
Giant Imperial Mix Larkspur Flowers flower Feb 20 Feb 27 Jun 7 – Jun 27
Green Arrow Pea legume Feb 20 Feb 27 May 3 – May 8
Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop cover crop Feb 20 Feb 27 May 13 – Jun 2
Holland Red Shallots allium Feb 13 Feb 20 May 21 – Jun 20
Little Marvel Pea legume Feb 20 Feb 27 Apr 28 – May 1
Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea legume Feb 20 Feb 27 May 6 – May 12
Michihili Cabbage brassica Feb 13 Feb 27 May 8
Oregon Giant Snow Pea legume Feb 20 Feb 27 May 8 – May 12
Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Pea legume Feb 20 Feb 27 Apr 28 – May 6
Progress No. 9 Shelling Pea legume Feb 20 Feb 27 Apr 26 – Apr 30
Red Acre Cabbage brassica Feb 13 Feb 27 May 13 – May 18
Sugar Ann Snap Pea legume Feb 20 Feb 27 Apr 20 – Apr 24
Vienna Purple Kohlrabi brassica Feb 20 Feb 27 Apr 23 – May 3
Vienna White Kohlrabi brassica Feb 20 Feb 27 May 3
Wando Pea legume Feb 20 Feb 27 May 1 – May 6
Alexandria Alpine Strawberry berry Feb 13 Mar 27 Perennial — see plant page
All Season Cabbage brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 15 – May 25
All Year Round Cauliflower brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 10
Angelica herb Feb 20 Mar 20 Jun 8 – Jun 18
Baby's Breath Flowers flower Feb 27 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Barletta, Pearly White Onions root vegetable Feb 20 Mar 20 Jun 3 – Jun 8
Blue Flax Flowers flower Feb 27 Mar 6 Perennial — see plant page
Bouquet Dill herb Feb 27 Mar 6 Apr 25 – May 10
Brilliant Celeriac root vegetable Feb 6 Mar 20 Jul 8 – Jul 18
Brunswick Cabbage brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 25 – Jun 4
Calabrese Broccoli brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 10
Cardoon (Purple Artichoke Thistle) vegetable Feb 27 Mar 27 Perennial — see plant page
Carentan Leeks allium Feb 13 Mar 6 Jun 4 – Jun 24
Catmint herb Feb 27 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Chinese Forget-Me-Not Flowers flower Feb 27 Mar 6 May 10 – May 30
Common Sage herb Feb 27 Mar 27 Perennial — see plant page
Copenhagen Cabbage brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 10
Crackerjack Mix Marigolds flower Feb 27 Mar 20 May 19 – Jun 3
Crimson Forest Bunching Onions root vegetable Feb 27 Mar 20 May 19
Curly Parsley herb Feb 13 Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 8
Danish Ballhead Cabbage brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 Jun 14 – Jun 24
Dark Green Italian Giant Parsley herb Feb 27 Mar 6 May 5 – May 20
Di Cicco Broccoli brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 10
Drumhead Cabbage brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 Jun 4 – Jun 14
Dukat Dill herb Feb 27 Mar 6 Apr 15 – Apr 25
Early Purple Broccoli brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 10
English Thyme herb Feb 20 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
English White Daisy Flowers flower Feb 20 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Evergreen Bunching Onions root vegetable Feb 27 Mar 20 Jul 18
Evergreen Parsley herb Feb 27 Mar 6 May 15 – May 30
Fenugreek herb Feb 27 Mar 6 Apr 10 – Apr 25
Flat-Leaf Parsley herb Feb 13 Mar 20 May 29 – Jun 18
Giant Maximum Mix Snapdragon Flowers flower Feb 20 Mar 20 Jun 8 – Jun 23
Giant Musselburgh Leeks allium Feb 13 Mar 6 Jun 14 – Jun 19
Glory of Enkhuizen Cabbage brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 Jun 4
Golden Acre Cabbage brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 10
Golden Celery vegetable Feb 20 Mar 27 Jun 20 – Jun 30
Grano Red Onions root vegetable Feb 20 Mar 20 Jul 18
Grano White Onions root vegetable Feb 20 Mar 20 Jul 18
Hamburg Rooted Parsley herb Feb 27 Mar 6 Jun 4 – Jun 24
Igloo Cauliflower brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 10 – May 15
Imperial Star Artichoke vegetable Feb 13 Mar 20 Jun 18 – Jun 28
Isis Candy Cherry Tomatoes tomato Feb 27 Mar 27 Jun 5 – Jun 15
Italian Oregano herb Feb 27 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Kellogg's Breakfast tomatoes tomato Feb 27 Mar 27 Jun 10 – Jun 20
Mammoth Dill herb Feb 27 Mar 6 Apr 20 – May 10
Mary Washington Asparagus vegetable Feb 27 Mar 6 Perennial — see plant page
Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes tomato Feb 27 Mar 27 May 21 – May 31
Medium Red Clover Cover Crop cover crop Feb 27 Mar 6 May 5 – May 20
Millennium Asparagus vegetable Feb 27 Mar 6 Perennial — see plant page
Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil herb Feb 27 Mar 27 May 26 – Jun 5
OG American Flag Leeks allium Feb 13 Mar 6 Jun 4 – Jun 14
Ox-Eye Daisy Flowers flower Feb 20 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Paul Robeson tomatoes tomato Feb 27 Mar 27 Jun 5 – Jun 20
Purple Passion Asparagus vegetable Feb 27 Mar 6 Perennial — see plant page
Rapeseed Cover Crop cover crop Feb 27 Mar 6 Apr 20 – May 15
Rapini Broccoli Raab brassica Feb 27 Mar 6 May 10
Red Burgundy Onions root vegetable Feb 20 Mar 20 Jul 8 – Jul 18
Roman Chamomile herb Feb 27 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Rue herb Feb 27 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Savoy Perfection Cabbage brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 Jun 4 – Jun 9
Scarlet Flax Flowers flower Feb 27 Mar 6 Apr 30 – May 15
Shasta Daisy Flowers flower Feb 13 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum) lettuce Feb 27 Mar 6 Apr 15 – Apr 30
Snowball Self-Blanche Cauliflower brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 10
Southport Red Globe Onions root vegetable Feb 20 Mar 20 Jul 18
Southport White Globe Onions root vegetable Feb 20 Mar 20 Jul 18
Spanish Sweet White Onions root vegetable Feb 20 Mar 20 Jul 8 – Jul 18
Sparky Mix Marigolds flower Feb 27 Mar 20 May 14 – May 29
Sweet Marjoram herb Feb 27 Mar 27 Jun 10 – Jun 25
Sweet Woodruff herb Feb 27 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Tansy herb Feb 27 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Tendercrisp Celery vegetable Feb 20 Mar 27 Jun 20 – Jul 5
Tropical Milkweed Flowers flower Feb 27 Mar 27 Perennial — see plant page
Victoria Rhubarb vegetable Feb 13 Mar 6 Perennial — see plant page
Violetta Purple Cauliflower brassica Feb 20 Mar 6 May 10
White Lisbon Bunching Onions root vegetable Feb 27 Mar 20 May 24
Wormwood herb Feb 27 Mar 20 Perennial — see plant page
Yellow Sweet Blossom Clover Cover Crop cover crop Feb 27 Mar 6 May 5 – Jun 4
Aji Amarillo Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jul 2 – Aug 1
Aji Dulce Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jul 2 – Jul 22
Anaheim Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 19 – Jun 27
Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jul 2 – Aug 1
Big Jim Hatch Chile pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 12 – Jun 17
Caribbean Red Scotch Bonnet Pepper pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jul 7 – Aug 1
Carolina Reaper peppers pepper Feb 20 Apr 3 Jul 2 – Aug 1
Cayenne Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 27 – Jul 7
Cherry Bomb peppers pepper Feb 20 Apr 3 Jun 17 – Jun 22
Chinese 5-Color Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 17 – Jun 27
Corno di Toro Pepper pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 17 – Jun 22
Datil peppers pepper Feb 20 Apr 3 Jul 2 – Jul 22
English Lavender herb Feb 27 Apr 3 Perennial — see plant page
Fish Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 12 – Jun 22
Fresno Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 17 – Jun 22
Gochugaru Korean Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 17
Green Globe Artichoke vegetable Feb 27 Apr 3 Perennial — see plant page
Habanero Pepper pepper Feb 27 Apr 10 Jul 9 – Aug 8
Hatch Green Chile (NM 6-4) Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 12 – Jun 22
Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 7 – Jun 17
Jalapeño Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 7 – Jun 17
Lemongrass herb Feb 27 Apr 3 Perennial — see plant page
Mariachi Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 8 – Jun 17
Poblano Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 7 – Jun 17
Serrano Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 12 – Jun 22
Thai Hot Peppers pepper Feb 27 Apr 3 Jun 17 – Jun 27
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers pepper Feb 20 Apr 3 Jun 22 – Aug 1

Plant Outside in February

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
Alaska Early Pea legume Transplant Feb 27 Apr 23 – Apr 28
All Year Round lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 11 – Apr 20
America lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 21 – Apr 2
Astro Arugula lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Feb 27 – Mar 18
Black Salsify root vegetable Transplant Feb 20 Perennial — see plant page
Black Seeded Simpson lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Mar 24
Blonde de Paris lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 7
Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Mar 30
Blue Curled Scotch lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 2 – Apr 7
Bok Choy lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Apr 7
Broad Windsor Fava Bean legume Transplant Feb 27 May 13 – May 23
Broadleaf Classic lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 7
Broadleaf Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Perennial — see plant page
Burgundy Boston lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 2
Buttercrunch lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 24 – Apr 2
Butterhead Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 12
Canary Yellow lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 7
Caraway herb Transplant Feb 27 Perennial — see plant page
Cascadia Sugar Snap Pea legume Transplant Feb 27 May 3 – May 5
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage brassica Transplant Feb 27 May 13
Chervil herb Transplant Feb 27 Apr 3 – Apr 13
Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) brassica Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 8 – Mar 28
Crimson Cherry Rhubarb Root vegetable Transplant Feb 20 Perennial — see plant page
Crisphead lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 15 – Apr 22
Curly Kale lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 2 – Apr 12
Dandelion herb Transplant Feb 27 Perennial — see plant page
Dark Green Romaine lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 7 – Apr 17
Delicatesse Blue Kohlrabi brassica Transplant Feb 27 Apr 23 – Apr 28
Delicatesse White Kohlrabi brassica Transplant Feb 27 Apr 23 – Apr 28
Dutch Lamb's Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 18 – Mar 28
Dutch Yellow Shallots allium Transplant Feb 20 May 21 – Jun 20
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage brassica Transplant Feb 27 May 3 – May 13
Endive / Escarole lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Apr 12
Florida Broadleaf lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 18 – Mar 28
Fordhook Giant lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Apr 2
French Lamb's Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 18 – Mar 28
French Red Shallots allium Transplant Feb 20 May 21 – Jun 20
Full Heart Batavian lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 May 2 – May 7
Georgia Southern Collard Greens lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 7 – Apr 27
Giant Imperial Mix Larkspur Flowers flower Transplant Feb 27 Jun 7 – Jun 27
Giant Red lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23
Green Arrow Pea legume Transplant Feb 27 May 3 – May 8
Green Ice lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23
Green Wave lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23
Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop cover crop Transplant Feb 27 May 13 – Jun 2
Holland Red Shallots allium Transplant Feb 20 May 21 – Jun 20
Hot Pink lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 7
Iceberg lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 15 – Apr 22
Kagraner Sommer lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 5
Lacinato Kale lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 7 – Apr 12
Large Leaf Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Perennial — see plant page
Leaf Lettuce Mix lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Apr 2
Little Gem lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 3
Little Marvel Pea legume Transplant Feb 27 Apr 28 – May 1
Lollo Bionda lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 7
Lollo Rossa lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 31 – Apr 3
Magenta Sunset lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 2 – Apr 7
Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea legume Transplant Feb 27 May 6 – May 12
Marvel of Four Seasons lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Apr 7
Matador Viking lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Mar 26
Mesclun Mix lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Feb 27 – Mar 8
Michihili Cabbage brassica Transplant Feb 27 May 8
Mizuna lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 18 – Mar 28
Monstrueux de Viroflay lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Mar 28
Morris Heading lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 22 – Apr 27
Mustard Greens lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 13 – Mar 28
Mâche (Corn Salad) lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 7 – May 1
Napa Cabbage brassica Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 17 – May 7
New Zealand Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 7
Noble Giant lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 24 – Mar 28
Old Fashion lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Mar 28
Orange lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Apr 2
Oregon Giant Snow Pea legume Transplant Feb 27 May 8 – May 12
Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Pea legume Transplant Feb 27 Apr 28 – May 6
Premier lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 7
Progress No. 9 Shelling Pea legume Transplant Feb 27 Apr 26 – Apr 30
Radicchio lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 7 – May 2
Rainbow Mix lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 7
Red Acre Cabbage brassica Transplant Feb 27 May 13 – May 18
Red Leaf Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Apr 2
Red Romaine lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 7 – Apr 17
Red Russian Kale lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 7
Red Vein Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Perennial — see plant page
Red-Stem Malabar Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 2 – Apr 17
Romaine Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 12 – Apr 22
Ruby Red lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 2 – Apr 7
Salad Bowl Green lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 27 – Mar 28
Siberian Dwarf lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 2
Sugar Ann Snap Pea legume Transplant Feb 27 Apr 20 – Apr 24
Summer Bibb lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 2 – Apr 7
Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 7
Tango lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 10 – Mar 18
Tatsoi lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 3 – Mar 23
Tendergreen lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 18 – Mar 28
Texas 1015Y SuperSweet Onion root vegetable Transplant Feb 20 Jun 5 – Jun 15
Tom Thumb lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 17
Tuscany Black lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 7 – Apr 22
Vates Collard lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 7 – Apr 22
Vates Kale lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 28 – Apr 2
Verona Red lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 May 2 – May 9
Vienna Purple Kohlrabi brassica Transplant Feb 27 Apr 23 – May 3
Vienna White Kohlrabi brassica Transplant Feb 27 May 3
Wando Pea legume Transplant Feb 27 May 1 – May 6
White Boston lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 18 – Mar 28
Winner Kohlrabi brassica Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Mar 28
Winter Density lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Apr 1 – Apr 7
Winter Giant lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 Mar 23 – Mar 28
Witloof White lettuce Direct Sow Feb 6 May 23 – Jun 15

Harvest in February

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Astro Arugula lettuce Feb 6 Feb 27 – Mar 18
Mesclun Mix lettuce Feb 6 Feb 27 – Mar 8

Key Tasks for February in Zone 8B

  1. 1 Start 135 varieties indoors this month under grow lights or in a sunny south-facing window. Use a seed-starting mix and bottom heat (70–75°F) for best germination rates.
  2. 2 Harden off transplants before moving outdoors — set them outside in a sheltered spot for increasing hours over 7–10 days before planting in the ground.
  3. 3 Direct sow seeds at the recommended depth and spacing. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination is complete.
  4. 4 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.
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