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When to Plant Fava Beans in Schleicher 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.

Schleicher County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost is November 8, giving you a growing season of approximately 221 days.

At an elevation of 3,657 feet, Schleicher County receives approximately 49.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Fava Beans during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Fava Beans will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Schleicher County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
221 days
Last Spring Frost April 1
221 growing days
First Fall Frost November 8

Schleicher County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.5-8.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Jul 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Jul 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (104 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 12

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
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 122 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Fava Beans needs ~1,794 GDD — county provides 4,530 GDD Excellent fit

Fava Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Schleicher County, TX

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 25 Feb 25 โ€“ Mar 11
Transplant Outdoors April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 15
Direct Sow March 18 Mar 18 โ€“ Apr 8
Fall Sowing August 30 Aug 30 โ€“ Sep 13
Harvest June 17 Jun 17 โ€“ Jul 29

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

221 days

Growing Tips for Schleicher 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 Schleicher County, TX?

Schleicher County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 1. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Schleicher County, TX?

Schleicher County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 1 and first fall frost is November 8.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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