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When to Plant Borage in Hall County, TX

Borage is a self-seeding annual herb with star-shaped blue flowers that attract pollinators. Its leaves have a cucumber-like flavor and the flowers are edible.

Hall County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost is November 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 220 days.

At an elevation of 1,213 feet, Hall County receives approximately 52.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Borage during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Borage will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Borage root diseases.

Hall County, TX (Zone 7a) Long season
220 days
Last Spring Frost March 31
220 growing days
First Fall Frost November 6

Hall County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.4-8.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (124 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 16 Transplant: Mar 16 🍅 Harvest: May 11 – Jun 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 7
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 3 – Jul 22

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 Hall County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.4โ€“8.8) is more alkaline than Borage prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Hall County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Borage will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.9%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Borage.

How to Plant Borage

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Borage

5
successive plantings in your 220-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 28.

Plant Water Budget

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

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

Borage needs ~1,128 GDD — county provides 4,510 GDD Excellent fit

Borage Planting Timeline โ€” Hall County, TX

Borage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 24 Feb 24 โ€“ Mar 10
Transplant Outdoors March 24 Mar 24 โ€“ Apr 7
Direct Sow March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Apr 7
Fall Sowing August 28 Aug 28 โ€“ Sep 11
Harvest May 19 May 19 โ€“ Jul 7

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

220 days in Hall County

Growing Tips for Borage in Hall County

Direct sow Borage outdoors after March 31 in Hall County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Hall County dries quickly โ€” mulch Borage with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring as borage does not transplant well. Allow some plants to go to seed for next year. Young leaves are best; older leaves become bristly.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Borage in Hall County, TX?

Hall County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of March 31. Plan your Borage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hall County, TX?

Hall County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 31 and first fall frost is November 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Hall County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Hall County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.