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When to Plant Yarrow in Jefferson County, TX

Yarrow is a drought-tolerant perennial herb with feathery foliage and flat-topped flower clusters in white, yellow, pink, or red. It attracts beneficial insects and is used in herbal medicine.

Jefferson County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 13 and the first fall frost is December 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 296 days.

At an elevation of 349 feet, Jefferson County receives approximately 64.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 101ยฐF, so Yarrow may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Yarrow will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Yarrow root diseases.

Jefferson County, TX (Zone 9a) Year-round
296 days
Last Spring Frost February 13
296 growing days
First Fall Frost December 6

Jefferson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (133 days to spare)
Transplant: Jan 31 🍅 Harvest: May 2 – Jul 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 20 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Aug 7
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 28

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 Jefferson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4โ€“6.5) overlaps with Yarrow's range (5.5โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). Annual compost additions will help Yarrow.

How to Plant Yarrow

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

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 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Yarrow

Yarrow 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 Yarrow Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 2.2" 2.1" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Mar 2.2" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 6.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 9.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 10.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 8.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 6.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 6.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 2.1" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec 2.2" 1.6" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Dec in Jefferson County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Yarrow 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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.

Yarrow needs ~2,704 GDD — county provides 7,647 GDD Excellent fit

Yarrow Planting Timeline โ€” Jefferson County, TX

Yarrow Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors February 20 Feb 20 โ€“ Mar 6
Harvest May 22 May 22 โ€“ Aug 7

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

90โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.5โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

296 days in Jefferson County

Growing Tips for Yarrow in Jefferson County

Direct sow Yarrow outdoors after February 13 in Jefferson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Jefferson County dries quickly โ€” mulch Yarrow with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 101ยฐF in Jefferson County, provide afternoon shade for Yarrow and water deeply in the morning.

Common pests for Yarrow in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow or start from divisions. Yarrow thrives in poor soil and is very drought-tolerant. Deadhead to encourage reblooming. Divide clumps every 3 years.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Yarrow in Jefferson County, TX?

Jefferson County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 13. Plan your Yarrow planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jefferson County, TX?

Jefferson County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 13 and first fall frost is December 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Jefferson County gardeners in Zone 9a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Jefferson County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.