Winter Garden in Texas FAQs | Best Plants, When to Plant & Growing Season

In Texas, fall brings football, cooler temperatures and—for many gardeners—the close of the growing season. After the hustle of late-summer harvesting, it’s easy to feel ready for a break. But with some planning and the right mix of Texas Native’s mulch, soil and compost, you can keep your garden thriving through the winter months, enjoying a colorful and tasty harvest.

Looking to get started? Check out Texas Native’s comprehensive guide to winter gardening. In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know, including:

• The best mulch, soil and compost practices for winter gardening

• Tips for choosing the right cold-tolerant plants

• How to protect your garden from frost, ice and snow

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to winter gardening, we’ve got you covered with expert tips to help your garden flourish year-round.

Browse Texas Native's full range of premium mulch, soil and compost products.

What is a Winter Garden?

A winter garden is exactly what it sounds like—a garden designed to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers during the cooler months. Thanks to Texas’ typically mild winters, gardeners across much of the state can keep growing well into the colder season.

The size of your winter garden is entirely up to you. It could be as simple as a few containers on your balcony or as expansive as your summer garden plot, now ready for a new season of growth. Whether big or small, the key to a successful winter garden lies in two crucial steps:

1. Proper Soil Preparation: Enrich your soil with Texas Native mulch, soil and/or compost amendments to ensure it’s packed with nutrients and ready for winter planting.

2. Selecting the Right Plants: Choose crops that thrive in cooler temperatures and shorter days, setting your garden up for a productive season.

Ready to start your winter garden? Explore our premium Texas Native products to give your plants the best foundation for success!

Preparing Your Winter Garden

Success in winter gardening, like anything else, starts with proper preparation. Whether your garden is large or small, getting it ready for the cooler months is straightforward with a few key steps:

• Nutrient Boost: Prepare your winter garden by enriching your soil with Texas Native compost. Packed with essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, our compost replenishes depleted soil, promoting strong root systems and healthy plant growth throughout the colder months. Unsure what kind of compost you need or how to apply it? Read Texas Native's complete guide to compost here.

• Soil Structure: Preparing your winter garden starts with creating the right soil environment. Texas Native soil products improve drainage and aeration, ensuring your plants’ roots don’t become waterlogged while still retaining enough moisture to thrive. This balanced soil structure provides an ideal foundation for winter crops, promoting healthy root development and robust growth even in colder conditions.

• Temperature Regulation: A layer of Texas Native mulch acts as an insulating blanket, helping to stabilize soil temperatures. It prevents the soil from freezing too quickly during cold snaps and keeps it from overheating on warmer winter days. This insulation ensures that plant roots remain in a more consistent and favorable environment, reducing stress and promoting healthy growth even in challenging weather conditions. Read Texas Native's extensive guide to mulch here.

When Should I Plant a Winter Garden in Texas?

The best time to plant a winter garden in Texas depends on a wide variety of factors, including the specific plants you're growing and your area's climate. As a general rule, you can start planting in late fall or early winter as long as the soil temperature is above 50 degrees.

Most plant tags and seed packets include a hardiness range showing the minimum temperature a plant can survive. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has also established Hardiness Zones for planting, based on the average lowest temperature an area experiences in the winter. Don't know which zone you're in? The USDA also has a handy online tool that lets you search for your hardiness zone by ZIP code.

Additionally, it's a good idea to check your local frost dates to determine the prime planting time in your area. Old Farmer's Almanac has a free list of average frost dates for many cities in Texas.

What Grows Best in a Texas Winter Garden?

Now for the exciting part—choosing your plants! With the right care and preparation, a wide range of vegetables, herbs and even flowers can flourish in a Texas winter garden. This is especially true when you insulate your soil with nutrient-rich layers of Texas Native mulch, soil and compost, which helps maintain optimal growing conditions.

Ready to get started? Let’s explore some of the most popular winter-friendly veggies, herbs and flowers for your garden.

Winter Garden Vegetables

When selecting vegetables for your winter garden, it’s important to consider their cold tolerance, which can usually be found on the grower’s tag or seed packet. Additionally, think about how you’ll use your harvest—there’s only so much kale one person can handle (trust us, we’ve been there). Planning ahead will help you grow what you’ll truly enjoy.

Here are some of the most popular vegetables that thrive in a Texas winter garden:

• Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, kale, collards and mustard greens are very cold-tolerant and can survive a light frost.

• Root Vegetables: Subterranean vegetables like carrots, potatoes, parsnips, rutabagas and beets are a great choice for a winter garden.

• Alliums: Bulb-rooted and often fragrant, cold-loving alliums include onions, scallions, garlic, leeks and shallots.

• Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, radishes, bok choy and other hardy vegetables can thrive in moderate cold and are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Winter Garden Herbs

Herbs are an excellent addition to winter gardens, whether you’re working with a large plot or a small container. Many herb varieties thrive in cooler temperatures and can be harvested fresh throughout the season or dried for future use in your favorite recipes.

Here are some top herb choices for your winter garden:

• Rosemary: This woody, aromatic herb thrives in Texas winters and can be used fresh or dried in various savory dishes.

• Thyme:  Preferring cooler temperatures, thyme is ideal for soups and pairs well with rosemary in culinary applications.

• Sage: With its soft-green, velvety leaves, sage is both visually appealing and a staple in holiday cooking.

• Lavender: Known for its fragrance and medicinal properties, lavender can grow well into the cooler months in Texas.

• Cilantro: This herb tolerates colder temperatures and is a staple in various cuisines.

• Mint: Varieties like peppermint and spearmint are frost-tolerant and can be used fresh in teas or other dishes.

• Chives: Related to green onions, chives add a mild onion flavor to dishes and can withstand cooler temperatures.

Winter Garden Flowers

When you think of flowers, summer might come to mind first, but plenty of blooms can thrive well into the winter months. If you want to add beauty rather than edibles to your garden, these winter-friendly flowers are perfect for bringing vibrant color to your Texas landscape during the colder season.

Here are some top picks for winter garden flowers that thrive in Texas:

• Pansies: Hardy and colorful, they withstand cool temperatures.

• Violas: Smaller blooms, great for adding delicate winter beauty.

• Ornamental Cabbage and Kale: Vibrant foliage in purples and greens.

• Snapdragons: Tall, colorful spikes that bloom through winter.

• Alyssum: Low-growing, fragrant flowers perfect for borders.

• Chrysanthemums: Fall favorites that can bloom into early winter.

• Marigolds: Bright oranges and yellows, ideal for extended color.

How to Utilize Texas Native Premium Landscape Products in my Winter Garden?

Preparing your winter garden with Texas Native products ensures a thriving and productive season.

Start with Texas Native compost to enrich your soil with essential nutrients and support beneficial microorganisms that promote healthy root growth. Follow up with Texas Native soil products to improve drainage and aeration, creating the ideal environment for your winter crops. Finally, apply a layer of Texas Native mulch to regulate soil temperature, retain moisture and protect plant roots from frost.

These products not only enhance plant health but also suppress weeds and prevent soil erosion during winter rains. Whether you’re cultivating vegetables, herbs or flowers, Texas Native landscape products provide everything your garden needs to thrive through the colder months.

How Should I Prepare My Winter Garden for a Freeze?

While many winter garden plants in Texas can withstand light frosts and colder temperatures, a hard freeze or deep cold can pose a risk. Proper preparation is key to keeping your garden thriving even when Jack Frost pays a visit. Here’s how to protect your plants:

• Use Row Covers: Lightweight fabric or plastic row covers act as insulation, shielding plants from freezing temperatures. Available at most home improvement stores, they can also be DIY’d using fabric or plastic sheets supported by hoops.

• Water Smartly: Avoid late afternoon or evening watering before a freeze, as moisture can freeze and harm plants. Instead, water in the morning so plants and soil have time to dry before temperatures drop.

• Apply Mulch: A thick layer of Texas Native mulch or compost around the base of plants helps insulate the soil, protecting roots from freezing. Explore our full line of 100% organic mulches for added protection.

• Bring Containers Indoors: If you have potted plants, move them indoors or to a sheltered area to prevent frost damage during a hard freeze.

With these steps and Texas Native products, your winter garden can weather the cold and continue to thrive.

Contact Texas Native

By following the tips in this guide, you can create a thriving winter garden that provides fresh produce, delicious herbs and beautiful flowers long after the summer is gone.

Since 1987, Texas Native products have been helping gardeners grow healthier, more productive gardens and create stunning, lush lawns. Today, we proudly offer over 40 varieties of compost, mulch and soil products, available in more than 350 stores.

Ready to take your garden to the next level and see what your green thumb can really do, even in the winter? Whether you're looking for bagged products or bulk quantities, Texas Native has you covered.

Have questions? Contact us today, and let's get growing.