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When to Plant Hubbard Squash in Hardeman County, TX

Hardeman County, Texas Zone 7b May

Your May planting checklist for Hardeman County, Texas

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost March 30
Avg. first frost November 7
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs

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Hubbard squash is a large, bumpy-skinned winter squash with dense, sweet, dry flesh ideal for baking and pies. The hard shell allows storage for 6 months or more.

Hardeman County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost is November 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 222 days.

At an elevation of 2,010 feet, Hardeman County receives approximately 47.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Hubbard Squash during the growing season.

Hardeman County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
222 days
Last Spring Frost March 30
222 growing days
First Fall Frost November 7
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Hardeman County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: Jul 20 – Aug 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Aug 31
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Aug 12 – Sep 16

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 Hardeman County

How your county's soil matches Hubbard Squash's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.3) overlaps with Hubbard Squash's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Hardeman County is excellent for Hubbard Squash — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Hubbard Squash.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help Hubbard Squash.

How to Plant Hubbard Squash

1"
Planting Depth
30"
Between Plants
42"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 938 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Hubbard Squash

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

Month Hubbard Squash Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 7.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 6.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Hubbard Squash 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.

Hubbard Squash needs ~1,842 GDD — county provides 3,718 GDD Excellent fit

Hubbard Squash Planting Timeline — Hardeman County, TX

Hubbard Squash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 2 Mar 2 – Mar 16
Transplant Outdoors April 13 Apr 13 – Apr 27
Direct Sow April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 27
Harvest July 27 Jul 27 – Aug 31

Plant 1" deep · 30" apart · Rows 42" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

222 days in Hardeman County

Growing Tips for Hubbard Squash in Hardeman County

Direct sow Hubbard Squash outdoors after March 30 in Hardeman County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Hubbard Squash in this region include squash vine borer and cucumber beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors in short-season areas. Requires ample space and rich soil. Harvest when the skin is very hard and the color is deep. Cure in the sun before storing.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Hubbard Squash in Hardeman County, TX?

Hardeman County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 30. Plan your Hubbard Squash planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hardeman County, TX?

Hardeman County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 30 and first fall frost is November 7.

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Your Hardeman County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Hardeman 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 Hardeman 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.