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When to Plant Horehound in Collingsworth County, TX

Collingsworth County, Texas Zone 7b May

May in the garden — Collingsworth County, Texas

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

Avg. last frost March 28
Avg. first frost November 6
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: horehound

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Horehound is a woolly, drought-tolerant perennial herb traditionally used for cough remedies and candy. It has a distinctive bitter, menthol-like flavor.

Collingsworth County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost is November 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 223 days.

At an elevation of 4,944 feet, Collingsworth County receives approximately 48.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 95°F, so Horehound may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Horehound will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Collingsworth County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
223 days
Last Spring Frost March 28
223 growing days
First Fall Frost November 6

Collingsworth County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.4-8.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 14 – Aug 9
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 20 – Aug 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (80 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Sep 2

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 Collingsworth County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.4–8.6) overlaps with Horehound's range (6.0–8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.0%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Horehound.

How to Plant Horehound

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

Succession Planting Horehound

3
successive plantings in your 223-day season

Sow every 8.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 08 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Horehound

Horehound 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 Horehound Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 2.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 1.9" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
May 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 2.2" 1.7" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Jul 2.2" 7.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 9.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 7.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Horehound 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.

Horehound needs ~1,753 GDD — county provides 4,738 GDD Excellent fit

Horehound Planting Timeline — Collingsworth County, TX

Horehound Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 18
Harvest June 20 Jun 20 – Aug 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

75–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

223 days in Collingsworth County

Growing Tips for Horehound in Collingsworth County

Direct sow Horehound outdoors after March 28 in Collingsworth County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Direct sow or start from divisions. Thrives in poor, dry soil. Harvest stems just before flowering. Deadhead to prevent aggressive self-seeding. Very drought-tolerant once established.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Horehound in Collingsworth County, TX?

Collingsworth County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 28. Plan your Horehound planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Collingsworth County, TX?

Collingsworth County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 28 and first fall frost is November 6.

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Your Collingsworth County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Collingsworth County (Zone 7b). 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 Collingsworth County, TX. 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.