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When to Plant Arugula in Llano 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.

Llano County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost is November 13, giving you a growing season of approximately 239 days.

At an elevation of 1,968 feet, Llano County receives approximately 50.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Arugula during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Arugula root diseases.

Llano County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
239 days
Last Spring Frost March 19
239 growing days
First Fall Frost November 13

Llano County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (145 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 1 Transplant: Mar 8 🍅 Harvest: Apr 12 – Jun 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (141 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 19 🍅 Harvest: Apr 23 – Jun 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (130 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 21

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,058 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Arugula needs ~760 GDD — county provides 4,541 GDD Excellent fit

Arugula Planting Timeline โ€” Llano County, TX

Arugula Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 12 Feb 12 โ€“ Feb 26
Transplant Outdoors March 19 Mar 19 โ€“ Apr 2
Direct Sow March 5 Mar 5 โ€“ Mar 26
Fall Sowing September 4 Sep 4 โ€“ Sep 18
Harvest April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ Jun 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

30โ€“50 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 8a

Growing Season

239 days

Growing Tips for Llano County

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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Arugula in Llano County, TX?

Llano County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 19. Plan your Arugula planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Llano County, TX?

Llano County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 19 and first fall frost is November 13.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Llano County gardeners in Zone 8a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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