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When to Plant Fava Beans in Archer County, TX

Fava beans are a cool-season legume with large, meaty beans inside thick pods. They fix nitrogen in the soil and are one of the oldest cultivated crops.

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 Fava Beans during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Fava Beans 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 (117 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jul 9
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 13 Transplant: Mar 20 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Aug 10

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
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

Fava Beans needs ~1,728 GDD — county provides 4,740 GDD Excellent fit

Fava Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Archer County, TX

Fava Beans 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
Fall Sowing September 6 Sep 6 โ€“ Sep 20
Harvest June 5 Jun 5 โ€“ Jul 17

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 โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

75โ€“100 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 7b

Growing Season

240 days

Growing Tips for Archer County

Direct sow as early as soil can be worked in spring. Pinch growing tips when pods begin to form to redirect energy and reduce aphid problems. Stake tall varieties.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Fava Beans in Archer County, TX?

Archer County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 20. Plan your Fava Beans 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.

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