Blog

When to Plant Celtuce in Brewster County, TX

Celtuce (stem lettuce) is a Chinese vegetable grown for its thick, crunchy stem rather than its leaves. The peeled stem has a mild, cucumber-like flavor.

Brewster County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 27 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 229 days.

At an elevation of 2,724 feet, Brewster County receives approximately 43.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 98°F, so Celtuce may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Celtuce will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Brewster County, TX (Zone 8b) Long season
229 days
Last Spring Frost March 27
229 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11

Brewster County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Celtuce Planting Timeline — Brewster County, TX

Celtuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 20 Feb 20 – Mar 6
Transplant Outdoors March 27 Mar 27 – Apr 10
Direct Sow March 13 Mar 13 – Apr 3
Harvest May 29 May 29 – Jul 10
Fall Sowing September 2 Sep 2 – Sep 16

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

📆 Growing Season

229 days in Brewster County

Growing Tips for Brewster County

Direct sow in spring or start indoors. Space 12 inches apart. Harvest when stems are about 1 inch in diameter. Peel the tough outer skin to reveal the tender center.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celtuce in Brewster County, TX?

Brewster County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 27. Plan your Celtuce planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Brewster County, TX?

Brewster County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 27 and first fall frost is November 11.

🌱

Your Brewster County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Brewster County (Zone 8b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Brewster County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

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