Epazote Planting Guide

April

Planting epazote in April

This page is about epazote in general. For your zone's exact planting and harvest dates, pick your county below.

Sun full sun

Water low

Days to harvest 45–60

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 8″

How to water epazote
Mulch heavily around epazote to hold soil moisture without watering more often.
Where to put epazote
South-facing beds are ideal for epazote. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant epazote. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Your epazote planting calendar by county →

Epazote is a pungent Mexican herb traditionally cooked with black beans to reduce their gas-causing properties. It has a strong, unique flavor that is an acquired taste.

Dysphania ambrosioides · Herb · Amaranthaceae family · 45–60 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Epazote Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Epazote?

Zone Compatibility for Epazote Zones 5a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 5a	Mar 7	May 2	May 9	Jun 27 – Aug 22
Zone 5b	Feb 28	Apr 25	May 2	Jun 20 – Aug 15
Zone 6a	Feb 20	Apr 17	Apr 24	Jun 12 – Aug 7
Zone 6b	Feb 13	Apr 10	Apr 17	Jun 5 – Jul 31
Zone 7a	Feb 4	Apr 1	Apr 8	May 27 – Jul 22
Zone 7b	Jan 28	Mar 25	Apr 1	May 20 – Jul 15
Zone 8a	Jan 18	Mar 15	Mar 22	May 10 – Jul 5
Zone 8b	Jan 7	Mar 4	Mar 11	Apr 29 – Jun 24
Zone 9a	Dec 30	Feb 17	Feb 17	Apr 7 – Jun 2
Zone 9b	Dec 14	Feb 1	Feb 1	Mar 22 – May 17
Zone 10a	Nov 20	Jan 8	Jan 8	Feb 26 – Apr 23
Zone 10b	Nov 20	Jan 8	Jan 8	Feb 26 – Apr 23
Zone 11a	Nov 20	Jan 8	Jan 8	Feb 26 – Apr 23
Zone 11b	Nov 20	Jan 8	Jan 8	Feb 26 – Apr 23

How to Plant Epazote

0.5"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 8

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 5a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

45–60 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Amaranthaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Amaranthaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Epazote

Epazote matures in just 45–60 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 4 successive plantings by sowing every 5.1 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Epazote

✅ Good Companions

Green Beans Corn

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Epazote

Direct sow after last frost. Epazote grows easily and self-sows aggressively. Use sparingly in cooking as the flavor is very strong. Harvest leaves before flowering for best flavor.

Saving Epazote Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

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Built-in reservoir keeps herbs and greens consistently watered with less effort.

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Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

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Epazote by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Epazote?

Epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides) takes 45 to 60 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Epazote grow in?

Epazote can be grown in USDA zones 5a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Epazote need?

Growing Epazote requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 6 to 8.