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When to Plant Peppers in Goliad County, TX

Goliad County, Texas Zone 9b May

This month in Goliad County, Texas

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

Avg. last frost February 24
Avg. first frost December 4
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.4 hrs
  1. Collect peppers at their peak

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

Looking ahead to June
  • First harvests: peppers

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Sweet peppers are warm-season crops producing fruits in a rainbow of colors. They turn from green to red, yellow, or orange as they ripen, increasing in sweetness.

Goliad County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 24 and the first fall frost is December 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 283 days.

At an elevation of 3,928 feet, Goliad County receives approximately 62.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 95°F, so Peppers may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peppers root diseases.

Goliad County, TX (Zone 9b) Year-round
283 days
Last Spring Frost February 24
283 growing days
First Fall Frost December 4
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Goliad County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (144 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 1 Transplant: Feb 19 🍅 Harvest: Apr 23 – Jul 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (143 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 13 Transplant: Mar 3 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – Jul 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (143 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 30 Transplant: Mar 20 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jul 31

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 Goliad County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.3) overlaps with Peppers's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Peppers.

How to Plant Peppers

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

Succession Planting Peppers

5
successive plantings in your 283-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 05 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 528 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Peppers

Peppers 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 Peppers Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.8" 2.2" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Mar 4.8" 3.5" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.8" 6.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.8" 9.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.8" 10.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.8" 8.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.8" 7.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.8" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.8" 3.6" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.8" 2.1" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 4.8" 1.6" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering

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

Peppers 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.

Peppers needs ~1,594 GDD — county provides 6,035 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline — Goliad County, TX

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 13 Jan 13 – Jan 27
Transplant Outdoors March 3 Mar 3 – Mar 17
Direct Sow February 24 Feb 24 – Mar 17
Harvest May 5 May 5 – Jul 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
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

1.1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9b

📆 Growing Season

283 days in Goliad County

Growing Tips for Peppers in Goliad County

Direct sow Peppers outdoors after February 24 in Goliad County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant when nighttime temperatures stay above 55F. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which promote leaves over fruit.

Recommended Peppers Varieties for Goliad County

Heat-loving peppers that thrive in your hot summers

NuMex Joe E. Parker Ancho 211 Mariachi

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel
  • Kohlrabi

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Peppers Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Remove seeds from fully ripe (red/orange) fruit.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4 years at 35°F, under 50% humidity.

Isolate 300 ft for purity. Hot and sweet peppers can cross-pollinate.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Peppers in Goliad County, TX?

Goliad County is in Zone 9b with an average last frost of February 24. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Goliad County, TX?

Goliad County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 24 and first fall frost is December 4.

🌱

Your Goliad County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Goliad 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 Goliad 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.