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When to Plant Basil in Hudspeth County, TX

Basil is a fragrant warm-season herb essential to Italian and Thai cuisines. It comes in many varieties including sweet, Thai, purple, and lemon types.

Hudspeth County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost is November 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 220 days.

At an elevation of 3,983 feet, Hudspeth County receives approximately 34.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 102ยฐF, so Basil may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Basil will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Hudspeth County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
220 days
Last Spring Frost March 30
220 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5

Hudspeth County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.2-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (88 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 30 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: May 29 – Jul 31
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (87 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Aug 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 28

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 820 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Basil needs ~1,656 GDD — county provides 5,830 GDD Excellent fit

Basil Planting Timeline โ€” Hudspeth County, TX

Basil Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 9 Feb 9 โ€“ Feb 23
Transplant Outdoors April 13 Apr 13 โ€“ Apr 27
Direct Sow April 6 Apr 6 โ€“ Apr 27
Harvest June 8 Jun 8 โ€“ Aug 10

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

50โ€“75 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 7b

Growing Season

220 days

Growing Tips for Hudspeth County

Start seeds indoors or direct sow after last frost. Pinch flower buds to extend leaf production. Harvest leaves from the top down, cutting just above a leaf pair.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Rue
  • Sage

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ Save Your Own Basil Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Let flower spikes dry brown on the plant.
Storage Store airtight; viable 5 years at 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

Isolate 150 ft between varieties. Different basil species can cross.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Basil in Hudspeth County, TX?

Hudspeth County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 30. Plan your Basil planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hudspeth County, TX?

Hudspeth County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 30 and first fall frost is November 5.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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

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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 Hudspeth County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.