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When to Plant Fava Beans in Hunt 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.

Hunt County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 15 and the first fall frost is November 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 245 days.

At an elevation of 1 feet, Hunt County receives approximately 57.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Fava Beans during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Fava Beans, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Fava Beans root diseases.

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

Hunt County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay

Soil pH

6.7-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Mar 7 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jul 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (126 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 8 Transplant: Mar 15 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Jul 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (116 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 6

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 4,838 GDD Excellent fit

Fava Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Hunt County, TX

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 8 Feb 8 โ€“ Feb 22
Transplant Outdoors March 15 Mar 15 โ€“ Mar 29
Direct Sow March 1 Mar 1 โ€“ Mar 22
Fall Sowing September 6 Sep 6 โ€“ Sep 20
Harvest May 31 May 31 โ€“ Jul 12

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 โ€”
May Harvest
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

245 days

Growing Tips for Hunt 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 Hunt County, TX?

Hunt County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 15. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hunt County, TX?

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

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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