When to plant pumpkins in Texas
Texas’s average last spring frost is March 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 245 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a). Pumpkin needs 90–120 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Texas's growing season.
Texas covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant pumpkins in Texas: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 15 – Apr 1, with seeds started indoors Feb 15 – Mar 1. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F and frost is over. For Halloween, count back 90–120 days from October 31: sow by Jul 3–Aug 2. See the Halloween plan.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow pumpkins in Texas, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 15 – Mar 1). Sow seeds 1 inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 85°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Mar 15 – Apr 1). Space plants about 48 inches apart in rows 96 inches apart. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: squash vine borer, squash bug, striped cucumber beetle. Diseases and disorders: powdery mildew, bacterial wilt.
- Harvest (from about Jun 20 – Jul 20). Pumpkin takes 90-120 days to reach harvest. For Halloween pumpkins in the north, count back 100-120 days from 31 Oct and start indoors. Mini varieties can climb a strong trellis.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Texas’s average frost dates. More in the full pumpkin growing guide.
Planting pumpkins in Texas for Halloween
Spring dates above suit a long season. If you want fruit ready for Halloween, count back from Halloween (October 31). Pumpkin takes 90–120 days from sowing to a mature fruit, so these are the latest sowing dates. Sow earlier for a margin, but not too early: the University of Arkansas Extension warns that pumpkins planted too early may rot before Halloween.
| Days to maturity | Latest sowing for Halloween | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| 120 days | July 3 | slowest types (giants) |
| 100 days | July 23 | jack-o'-lantern and pie types (University of Arkansas variety table) |
| 90 days | August 2 | quickest types |
See the full growing guide for pumpkin. Days to maturity vary by variety, so check the seed packet.
Pumpkin planting dates by USDA zone in Texas
Texas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the pumpkin dates shift with them.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant pumpkin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Apr 15 – May 2 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 22 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 | Dec 15 | 330 days | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Jan 30 – Feb 16 |
Questions gardeners in Texas ask
When is the best time to plant pumpkins in Texas?
Plant pumpkin transplants outdoors in Texas between March 15 and April 1. That timing is set by Texas's average last spring frost of March 15; Texas spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start pumpkin seeds indoors in Texas?
Start seeds indoors between February 15 and March 1, about 3 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 15.
What is the latest I can plant pumpkins in Texas?
About August 17. Pumpkins need at least 90 days to mature, and frost around November 15 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short. If you want ripe fruit for Halloween, the cut-off is earlier: see the Halloween dates on this page.
When will pumpkins planted in Texas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, pumpkins are usually ready from about June 20 to July 20, 90-120 days after planting.
When should I plant pumpkins in Texas for Halloween?
Count back 90-120 days from October 31: the latest sowing dates are July 3 to August 2. Sow a little earlier for a margin.
When is the last frost in Texas?
On average around March 15, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 245 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.