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When to Plant Tomatillo in Texas County, OK

Texas County, Oklahoma Zone 6b May

May in the garden — Texas County, Oklahoma

Each item below is timed to Texas County, Oklahoma's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 16
Avg. first frost October 20
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: tomatillo

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Tomatillos are a Mexican staple that produces tart, green fruits enclosed in papery husks. They are essential for salsa verde and green sauces.

Texas County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 187 days.

At an elevation of 870 feet, Texas County receives approximately 20.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Tomatillo during the growing season.

Texas County, OK (Zone 6b) Moderate season
187 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
187 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20
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Texas County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Sep 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 19 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Sep 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Sep 26

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 Texas County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.8) is more alkaline than Tomatillo prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Texas County is excellent for Tomatillo — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Tomatillo will thrive.

How to Plant Tomatillo

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Tomatillo

3
successive plantings in your 187-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 27 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,286 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Tomatillo

Tomatillo needs approximately 1.1 inches of water per week (4.8" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Tomatillo Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.8" 2.1" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
May 4.8" 3" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.8" 3.4" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.8" 2.3" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.8" 2.3" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.8" 2.1" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.8" 1.4" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Tomatillo 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.

Tomatillo needs ~1,214 GDD — county provides 3,132 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatillo Planting Timeline — Texas County, OK

Tomatillo Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 19 Feb 19 – Mar 5
Transplant Outdoors April 30 Apr 30 – May 14
Direct Sow April 23 Apr 23 – May 14
Harvest July 2 Jul 2 – Sep 10

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.1"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–85 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

187 days in Texas County

Growing Tips for Tomatillo in Texas County

Direct sow Tomatillo outdoors after April 16 in Texas County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Tomatillo in this region include tomato hornworm and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Texas County receives only 20" of rain annually. Tomatillo needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Plant at least two plants for cross-pollination. Harvest when fruits fill the husk and it begins to split.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel
  • Dill

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tomatillo in Texas County, OK?

Texas County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Tomatillo planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Texas County, OK?

Texas County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 20.

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Your Texas County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Texas County (Zone 6b). 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 Texas County, OK. 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.