FALL GROWING GUIDE · REGION II
When to plant
leaf lettuce
in West Texas.
Leaf lettuce can be a useful later planting after summer vegetables leave the bed. Its calendar should not be confused with the much earlier dates for fruiting crops.
AVERAGE FALL PLANTING DATE
September 15
Direct sow · Frost tolerant
A recurring regional reference from the 2014 Extension guide. This is not a forecast; the source does not specify a closing date for this crop.
What this means for your garden.
The source groups a broad western swath of Texas into Region II. Its calendar sits between the Panhandle and the central region, with midsummer starts for many fall vegetables.
For leaf lettuce, the regional reference is September 15. The source provides no last optimum date for this crop. This is a large region with differences in elevation and exposure. Use the calendar to organize your plan, then check your county Extension advice and the conditions in your bed.
Your next three steps
- Choose the right start.
For a steady salad supply, plan small separate sowings when conditions suit the variety rather than saving one oversized planting.
- Give the plant a good first week.
Sow a manageable amount and label the variety. Record what germinates well in your own garden so the next small sowing can be based on experience.
- Keep a record you can use next season.
Save your planned date, then change it to the day you actually plant. Record completion in My Garden; the reference calendar stays separate from your own history.
WHY LOCATION MATTERS
One crop. Five different calendars.
How the same crop’s average date compares with West Texas.
Texas PanhandleSeptember 114 days earlierCentral & East TexasOctober 1025 days laterCoastal South TexasNovember 147 days laterRio Grande ValleyDecember 177 days laterSource, scope & a little context.
Table 1 supplies average fall planting dates. Table 2 supplies last optimum dates only for the crops it lists. Figure 1 defines the five historical gardening regions; these are not current USDA hardiness zones.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension · Fall Vegetable Gardening Guide (EHT-056) ↗Dates: Table 1, p. 2. Region: Figure 1, p. 3. Source checked 2026-09-27. Editorial care notes are general planning advice; your county Extension office can refine them.
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