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When to Plant Amaranth in Hansford County, TX

Hansford County, Texas Zone 7a May

This month in Hansford County, Texas

Your garden in Hansford County, Texas is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost April 17
Avg. first frost October 18
Soil temp (4") 51°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Move amaranth from tray to bed

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: amaranth

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Amaranth is an ancient grain crop with edible leaves and seeds, rich in protein and micronutrients. It thrives in warm conditions and is drought-tolerant once established.

Hansford County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 184 days.

At an elevation of 4,649 feet, Hansford County receives approximately 53.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 93°F, providing good warmth for Amaranth during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Amaranth will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Amaranth root diseases.

Hansford County, TX (Zone 7a) Moderate season
184 days
Last Spring Frost April 17
184 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Hansford County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.4-8.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (29 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Sep 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (30 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Sep 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (32 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 15 – Oct 3

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 Hansford County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.4–8.5) is more alkaline than Amaranth prefers (6.0–7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Hansford County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Amaranth 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 Amaranth.

How to Plant Amaranth

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

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Amaranth

Amaranth needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Amaranth Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
May 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 9.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 11.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 6.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Amaranth 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.

Amaranth needs ~2,074 GDD — county provides 3,634 GDD Excellent fit

Amaranth Planting Timeline — Hansford County, TX

Amaranth Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 27 Feb 27 – Mar 13
Transplant Outdoors May 1 May 1 – May 15
Direct Sow April 24 Apr 24 – May 15
Harvest July 31 Jul 31 – Sep 18

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

90–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

184 days in Hansford County

Growing Tips for Amaranth in Hansford County

Direct sow Amaranth outdoors after April 17 in Hansford County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost when soil is warm. Thin seedlings to 18 inches apart. Harvest leaves when young and tender; harvest seeds when flower heads begin to dry.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Amaranth in Hansford County, TX?

Hansford County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 17. Plan your Amaranth planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hansford County, TX?

Hansford County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 17 and first fall frost is October 18.

🌱

Your Hansford County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Hansford County (Zone 7a). 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 Hansford 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.