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When to Plant Arugula in Grayson County, TX

Arugula is a fast-growing cool-season green with a peppery, nutty flavor. It is excellent in salads and can be harvested as baby greens or mature leaves.

Grayson County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 14 and the first fall frost is November 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 249 days.

At an elevation of 248 feet, Grayson County receives approximately 71.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Arugula during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Arugula root diseases.

Grayson County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
249 days
Last Spring Frost March 14
249 growing days
First Fall Frost November 18

Grayson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (151 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 30 Transplant: Mar 6 🍅 Harvest: Apr 10 – Jun 12
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (151 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Mar 14 🍅 Harvest: Apr 18 – Jun 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (134 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jul 20

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Grayson County

How your county's soil matches Arugula's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6โ€“7.3) overlaps with Arugula's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Grayson County is excellent for Arugula โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.1%). Annual compost additions will help Arugula.

How to Plant Arugula

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Arugula

10
successive plantings in your 249-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 29 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 09.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Arugula

Arugula needs approximately 0.6 inches of water per week (2.6" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Arugula Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 2.6" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.6" 8.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.6" 11.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.6" 12.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.6" 9.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.6" 7.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.6" 6.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.6" 4.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.6" 2.1" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Grayson County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Arugula Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Arugula needs ~640 GDD — county provides 3,984 GDD Excellent fit

Arugula Planting Timeline โ€” Grayson County, TX

Arugula Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 7 Feb 7 โ€“ Feb 21
Transplant Outdoors March 14 Mar 14 โ€“ Mar 28
Direct Sow February 28 Feb 28 โ€“ Mar 21
Harvest April 18 Apr 18 โ€“ Jun 20
Fall Sowing September 9 Sep 9 โ€“ Sep 23

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July โ€”
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.6"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

30โ€“50 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

249 days in Grayson County

Growing Tips for Arugula in Grayson County

Direct sow Arugula outdoors after March 14 in Grayson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 249.0-day season in Grayson County allows multiple plantings of Arugula. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Arugula in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Sow seeds directly every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Provide afternoon shade in warm weather to prevent bolting. Harvest outer leaves first to extend production.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Arugula in Grayson County, TX?

Grayson County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 14. Plan your Arugula planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grayson County, TX?

Grayson County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 14 and first fall frost is November 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Grayson County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Grayson County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.