When to plant radicchio in San Antonio, Texas

February 25 – March 11

Transplant outdoors · typical San Antonio year

Climate basis: NOAA station San Antonio Incarnate Word, TX (USC00417947), 3 mi (5 km) from downtown San Antonio (ZCTA 78205 centroid), elevation 700 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Transplant radicchio outdoors from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (February 25). One year in ten still freezes after March 19.

Last spring freezeFebruary 251-in-10 after Mar 19
First fall freezeNovember 281-in-10 before Nov 7
Frost-free season277 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Feb 5Dec 15kills even hardy greens
USDA zone9a20 to 25°F winter low not frost timing

The San Antonio year

Transplant outdoorsFeb 25 – Mar 11
Direct-sow outdoorsJan 28 – Feb 4
Fall plantingAug 30 – Sep 13
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to Mar 19
Radicchio in San Antonio · freeze context from San Antonio Incarnate Word, TX, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

Feb 25 – Mar 11

USU places transplants near the last frost-free date, a point rule that is encoded as a 14-day planting span beginning at the last-freeze anchor. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Feb 25). Utah State University Extension

Direct-sow outdoors

Jan 28 – Feb 4

USU states seeded radicchio may go in 3-4 weeks before the last frost-free date, and because the source gives an explicit range it is encoded directly as -28 to -21 days rather than expanded to a 14-day span. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Feb 25). Utah State University Extension

Fall planting

Aug 30 – Sep 13

UMN sows the fall crop about three months before the average first fall frost, taken as a -90 day point and encoded as a 14-day span; USU's fall guidance is not combined here because it is anchored to an anticipated maturity date rather than stated directly against the frost date. Anchored to the median first fall freeze (Nov 28). University of Minnesota Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

No frost-anchored indoor-start window is published, because UMN gives indoor sowing as Minnesota calendar dates ('early April', and July for fall crops) rather than against a freeze date, and the alternative lead time it offers is measured from the transplant date rather than from an anchor, while USU states only that 5-6 weeks are generally required to grow transplants to set-out size.

Variety assumption: UMN gives radicchio about 60 to 70 days to mature, and USU advises selecting early-maturing cultivars for fall plantings.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (2)

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