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When to Plant Radish in Chaves County, NM

Radishes are one of the fastest-growing vegetables, with some varieties ready in under a month. They come in round, elongated, and large winter types.

Chaves County, New Mexico is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 204 days.

At an elevation of 2,932 feet, Chaves County receives approximately 11.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Radish during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Radish will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Radish successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Chaves County, NM (Zone 7b) Long season
204 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
204 growing days
First Fall Frost October 30

Chaves County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.2-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (159 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 1 🍅 Harvest: Apr 29 – May 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (155 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: May 7 – May 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (161 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jun 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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.2″/week
You supply
1.3″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,316 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Radish needs ~520 GDD — county provides 3,723 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline โ€” Chaves County, NM

Radish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 16
Fall Sowing August 21 Aug 21 โ€“ Sep 4
Harvest April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ May 14

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 2" apart ยท Rows 6" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Direct Sow
April Direct Sow Harvest
May Harvest
June โ€”
July โ€”
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

22โ€“35 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 7b

Growing Season

204 days

Growing Tips for Chaves County

Direct sow every 1-2 weeks for continuous harvest. Do not transplant. Harvest spring radishes promptly to prevent them from becoming pithy and hot.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Hyssop

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Radish in Chaves County, NM?

Chaves County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Chaves County, NM?

Chaves County, New Mexico is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 30.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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