Blog

When to Plant Bok Choy in Archer County, TX

Bok choy is a Chinese cabbage variety with crisp white stalks and dark green leaves. It is a fast-growing cool-season crop ideal for stir-fries and soups.

Archer County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 20 and the first fall frost is November 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 240 days.

At an elevation of 2,151 feet, Archer County receives approximately 59.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Bok Choy during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Bok Choy root diseases.

Archer County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
240 days
Last Spring Frost March 20
240 growing days
First Fall Frost November 15

Archer County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (159 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: Apr 23 – May 28
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (163 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 13 Transplant: Mar 20 🍅 Harvest: May 1 – Jun 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (151 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jun 29

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 Archer County

How your county's soil matches Bok Choy's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4โ€“7.5) is within Bok Choy's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Bok Choy.

How to Plant Bok Choy

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Bok Choy

7
successive plantings in your 240-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 16 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 06.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Bok Choy

Bok Choy needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Bok Choy Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3" 3.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 6.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 8.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 10" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 6.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 7.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 2.3" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Bok Choy 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.

Bok Choy needs ~988 GDD — county provides 4,740 GDD Excellent fit

Bok Choy Planting Timeline โ€” Archer County, TX

Bok Choy Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 13 Feb 13 โ€“ Feb 27
Transplant Outdoors March 20 Mar 20 โ€“ Apr 3
Direct Sow March 6 Mar 6 โ€“ Mar 27
Harvest May 1 May 1 โ€“ Jun 5
Fall Sowing September 6 Sep 6 โ€“ Sep 20

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors
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

0.7"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

240 days in Archer County

Growing Tips for Bok Choy in Archer County

Direct sow Bok Choy outdoors after March 20 in Archer County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 240.0-day season in Archer County allows multiple plantings of Bok Choy. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

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

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring or fall for best results. Keep soil consistently moist. Harvest whole heads or cut outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again approach.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Bok Choy in Archer County, TX?

Archer County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 20. Plan your Bok Choy planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Archer County, TX?

Archer County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 20 and first fall frost is November 15.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Archer 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 Archer County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.