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When to Plant Yarrow in Hernando County, FL

Hernando County, Florida Zone 9b May

Hernando County, Florida gardeners: here's your May plan

Here's what deserves your attention in Hernando County, Florida this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 9b and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost January 25
Avg. first frost December 16
Soil temp (4") 76°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.4 hrs
  1. Harvest yarrow as they ripen

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

Looking ahead to June
  • First harvests: yarrow

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Yarrow is a drought-tolerant perennial herb with feathery foliage and flat-topped flower clusters in white, yellow, pink, or red. It attracts beneficial insects and is used in herbal medicine.

Hernando County, Florida is in USDA Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is January 25 and the first fall frost is December 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 325 days.

At an elevation of 245 feet, Hernando County receives approximately 51.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sand soil. Summer highs average 99°F, so Yarrow may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Yarrow will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Yarrow root diseases.

Hernando County, FL (Zone 9b) Year-round
325 days
Last Spring Frost January 25
325 growing days
First Fall Frost December 16
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Hernando County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sand

Soil pH

5.1-5.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (150 days to spare)
Transplant: Jan 26 🍅 Harvest: Apr 27 – Jul 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (150 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 1 🍅 Harvest: May 3 – Jul 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (124 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Aug 22

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 Hernando County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1–5.9) overlaps with Yarrow's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Hernando County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Yarrow will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Yarrow.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.4%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Yarrow.

How to Plant Yarrow

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Yarrow

Yarrow needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Yarrow Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2.2" 2.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Feb 2.2" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Mar 2.2" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 7.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 6.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 6.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 2.2" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient

Water needs are for active growing months only (Jan–Dec in Hernando County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Yarrow 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" — every day above 50°F 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.

Yarrow needs ~2,546 GDD — county provides 7,905 GDD Excellent fit

Yarrow Planting Timeline — Hernando County, FL

Yarrow Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors February 1 Feb 1 – Feb 15
Harvest May 3 May 3 – Jul 19

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Transplant Outdoors
March
April
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

90–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9b

📆 Growing Season

325 days in Hernando County

Growing Tips for Yarrow in Hernando County

Direct sow Yarrow outdoors after January 25 in Hernando County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Hernando County dries quickly — mulch Yarrow with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 99°F in Hernando County, provide afternoon shade for Yarrow and water deeply in the morning.

Common pests for Yarrow in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow or start from divisions. Yarrow thrives in poor soil and is very drought-tolerant. Deadhead to encourage reblooming. Divide clumps every 3 years.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Yarrow in Hernando County, FL?

Hernando County is in Zone 9b with an average last frost of January 25. Plan your Yarrow planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hernando County, FL?

Hernando County, Florida is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is January 25 and first fall frost is December 16.

🌱

Your Hernando County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Hernando County (Zone 9b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Hernando County, FL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.