Best Crops to Grow in Texas

10 Best Crops to Grow in Texas:What to Know

Texas is known as the Lone Star State because of its history as an independent nation before joining the United States, and because of its large population of residents. It’s also known for crops that thrive in its warm climate and rich soil of which there are quite a few.

This list of the 10 best crops to grow in Texas includes more than the most popular ones, including some lesser-known alternatives to those favorites. A little bit about each crop will help you decide if it might be right for your garden.

The List of Best Crops to Grow in Texas

  • Beans

  • Edamame(soybean)

  • Bell Peppers

  • Blueberries

  • Dewberries

  • Bilberries

  • Huckleberries

  • Brussels Sprouts

  • Carrots

  • Cauliflower

1. Beans

Growing beans can be a great way to grow your own food and save money on high-priced grocery bills.

Beans are one of the most versatile and best crops to grow in Texas because they’re used in everything from hummus and falafel to baked beans and chili. In addition, they’re high in protein, which is an important consideration for vegans or vegetarians.

Some types of beans, such as black-eyed peas and cowpeas, have especially high amounts of protein.

They also take less time to harvest than many other vegetables, sometimes as little as three months! If you want more variety in your diet but don’t have a lot of space available, growing beans could be just what you need.

It is recommended that you start with dry beans like Pinto Beans or Black Beans as these are two of the most popular varieties grown in Texas.

You should also consider planting Lima Beans, which is another popular crop that does well in the Texas climate.

The Limas are a lot sweeter than most other beans and have a beautiful bright green color when cooked.

They’ve also included Yellow Eyes and Garbanzo Beans because these beans can be harvested early for fresh eating without risking any disease from damp weather.

2. Edamame(soybean)

Anyone who has ever eaten edamame knows that these green soybeans have a sweet, creamy flavor. Edamame is a perfect crop for beginners because they are easy to grow and doesn’t require any special equipment.

While the beans can be eaten raw or cooked, many people enjoy them as part of a Japanese meal with sushi or tempura.

They are often boiled in their pods and served either hot or cold. Fresh watermelon: Fresh watermelons taste best when chilled, so try growing one for your summer picnic!

3. Bell Peppers

This is one of the best crops to grow in Texas. They are inexpensive and don’t require too much space. Planting bell peppers are best done from seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date of spring when daytime temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Outdoors, plant them around mid-April in a sunny location that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day. Harvest them when they turn bright green by cutting the stem just above where it attaches to the pepper fruit.

Bell peppers can also be grown on trellises and will produce longer fruit as well as many more per plant than those grown on ground level. The ideal spacing between plants is 12 inches apart with 18 inches between rows.

4. Blueberries

These sweet, juicy berries are a fun crop for the home gardener. You can grow them even if you live in an apartment or townhouse with limited space, but they may need some help from a trellis.

If you plant blueberry plants too close together, they will grow into a tangled mess of vegetation that cannot support fruit production. Give them plenty of room and watch them produce year after year!

5. Dewberries

Look for dewberries at your local nursery or order them online. A healthy bush is about four feet high and has an arching, thorny canopy. The fruit ripens from June through September, so harvest it when it’s ready by picking the berries one by one with care.

It can be eaten raw or used in jams, jellies, and pies. I picked some up last weekend at the nursery. They have a distinct flavor, not as sweet as strawberries but still yummy.

6. Bilberries

It turns out that bilberries, or blueberries as most people call them, can be grown in Texas. Not only are they delicious, but they have a higher antioxidant content than any other fruit on this list. This means that you’re getting all of the benefits without sacrificing flavor.

On top of their antioxidant content, they also contain plenty of Vitamin C and Vitamin E. The downside? They grow slower than many other fruits and take around four years before reaching full maturity.

7. Huckleberries

If you’re looking for a niche crop that is low-maintenance and easy to harvest, then huckleberries may be right up your alley. Huckleberries are perennial plants that prefer moist soil but can handle dryer conditions better than blueberries.

This is one of the best crops to grow in Texas that is best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-6, which means they’ll do well throughout most of the state of Texas.

8. Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are a great winter crop and I like to plant them early so they mature before the cold weather sets in. Brussels sprouts are a cool-season crop, so they grow best when it is between 50°F and 60°F.

You need about 100 days for harvesting, but you will get your first harvest around 100 days after planting the seeds. For this reason, it is best if you start seeds indoors or purchase seedlings from your local nursery.

9. Carrots

Carrot seeds can be started indoors six weeks before the last frost date or outdoors after the last frost date. Carrots grow well in a wide range of soils but need good drainage so they don’t rot at their taproots.

They are best planted about 2-3 inches deep, 12-15 inches apart, and thinned to about an inch apart when seedlings are about 3-4 inches tall.

10. Cauliflower

Even though cauliflower can be grown year-round, the best time for growing cauliflower is from April through June. The earliest you should plant cauliflower seeds is February; planting too early can lead to low yields and white curdling on the outside of the head.

Conclusion

Cauliflower and along with the rest Crops to Grow in Texas prefers cool soil, so try mulching around plants with straw or hay. The crop matures between 60 and 75 days after planting. Do you have suggestions about these best crops to grow in Texas? Please leave a comment below.

Editor’s Pick

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *