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When to Plant Corn in Presidio County, TX

Corn is a warm-season grass grown for its sweet ears, which are best eaten soon after harvest. It is wind-pollinated and must be planted in blocks for good kernel fill.

Presidio County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 3 and the first fall frost is November 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 213 days.

At an elevation of 1,804 feet, Presidio County receives approximately 42.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 102ยฐF, so Corn may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Corn will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Presidio County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
213 days
Last Spring Frost April 3
213 growing days
First Fall Frost November 2

Presidio County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.3-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 23 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jul 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 31
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (91 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 25

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 Presidio County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.3โ€“8.4) is more alkaline than Corn prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.0%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Corn.

How to Plant Corn

1"
Planting Depth
12"
Between Plants
36"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Corn

4
successive plantings in your 213-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 25 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,488 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Corn

Corn needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Corn Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 2.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 1.4" 5.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 6.5" 1.1" 5.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 1.5" 5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 6.5" 7.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 6.5" 9.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 6.5" 6" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 6.5" 3.3" 3.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 6.5" 2.2" 4.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Corn 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.

Corn needs ~2,120 GDD — county provides 5,644 GDD Excellent fit

Corn Planting Timeline โ€” Presidio County, TX

Corn Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ May 1
Harvest June 12 Jun 12 โ€“ Aug 7

Plant 1" deep ยท 12" apart ยท Rows 36" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.5"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

213 days in Presidio County

Growing Tips for Corn in Presidio County

Direct sow Corn outdoors after April 03 in Presidio County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

With summer highs reaching 102ยฐF in Presidio County, provide afternoon shade for Corn and water deeply in the morning.

Common pests for Corn in this region include corn earworm and corn borers. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Plant in blocks of at least 4 rows rather than single rows for proper pollination. Direct sow after soil reaches 60F. Side-dress with nitrogen when plants are knee-high.

Recommended Corn Varieties for Presidio County

Heat-tolerant varieties that silk well in high temps

Silver Queen (92d) Incredible (85d)

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Celery

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Corn in Presidio County, TX?

Presidio County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 3. Plan your Corn planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Presidio County, TX?

Presidio County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 3 and first fall frost is November 2.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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