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When to Plant Jicama in Archer County, TX

Jicama is a tropical legume grown for its crisp, sweet, starchy root. It requires a very long, warm growing season but produces a refreshing, water chestnut-like tuber.

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 Jicama during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Jicama 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 (26 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 22 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 30 – Oct 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (30 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 30 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: Aug 7 – Oct 16
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Aug 31 – Nov 9

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 Archer County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4โ€“7.5) is within Jicama's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Archer County is excellent for Jicama โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Jicama.

How to Plant Jicama

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Jicama

Jicama needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Jicama Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 6.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 8.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 10" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 6.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 7.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 2.3" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Jicama 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.

Jicama needs ~2,962 GDD — county provides 4,740 GDD Excellent fit

Jicama Planting Timeline โ€” Archer County, TX

Jicama Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 30 Jan 30 โ€“ Feb 13
Transplant Outdoors April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 17
Direct Sow March 27 Mar 27 โ€“ Apr 17
Harvest August 7 Aug 7 โ€“ Oct 16

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

120โ€“180 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

240 days in Archer County

Growing Tips for Jicama in Archer County

Direct sow Jicama outdoors after March 20 in Archer County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Jicama in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Pinch off flowers to direct energy to root development. Harvest before first frost when roots are 3-6 inches across.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Jicama in Archer County, TX?

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