Actually, the first couple weeks in July are actually good times for planting tomatos for a fall garden. Plant other warm season veggies like peppers, okra, etc. too.

As for planting later in the fall when it cools off, below is a link with specific vegetable planting dates that might be helpful. It is from the Collin County Master Gardeners, but should be okay for your area. Here is another link where you can scroll down to select the information about vegetables. It is from TAMU:
http://www.plantanswers.com/resources.htm#veggies

Here is a link that might be useful: Vegetable Planting Dates & Varieties

Thanks for the reply! I emailed the Harris County extension and asked them. Hopefully I will hear from them this week, but if not, I am thinking I will go by the dates you gave.

Don't mean to be nosy, but what part of Texas are you in? There are a lot of different "zone 8" areas.

In my experience, early July is a wee bit earlier than "optimal", especially if you are further south and/or "8b". Aug 1-7 is my target fall plantout date, some may even go a bit later than that. When I lived in the metroplex, it was around the same time, maybe a few days earlier.

I guess you're in Harris County. Oops, some days my reading comprehension is better than others. :-) See attached for a Harris County planting calendar from the extension service.

Here's another

Here is a link that might be useful: Harris County veg planting calendar

I am a little south of you, down on the coast. Plant seeds of tomatoes now, for the fall garden. Set them out around the middle of August, or later, if it is killer hot. Protect your little plants from the hot afternoon sun until it cools off a little.

Most vegetables want a full day of sun.

Janie

Thanks for the links!! Exactly what I was looking for. I live in NW Houston, which I see an also be considered zone 9 in some nurseries I have looked at.

I will look into buying little tomatoe plants. I tried the seeds once and did not have any luck!!