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When to Plant Radish in Newton County, TX

Newton County, Texas Zone 9a May

This month in Newton County, Texas

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

Avg. last frost March 9
Avg. first frost November 16
Soil temp (4") 72°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.6 hrs

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Radishes are one of the fastest-growing vegetables, with some varieties ready in under a month. They come in round, elongated, and large winter types.

Newton County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 9 and the first fall frost is November 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 252 days.

At an elevation of 33 feet, Newton County receives approximately 77 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Radish during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Radish will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Radish root diseases.

Newton County, TX (Zone 9a) Long season
252 days
Last Spring Frost March 9
252 growing days
First Fall Frost November 16
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Newton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (202 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 3 🍅 Harvest: Mar 31 – Apr 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (203 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 9 🍅 Harvest: Apr 6 – Apr 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (190 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – May 26

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 Newton County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.3) is more acidic than Radish prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Radish

0.5"
Planting Depth
2"
Between Plants
6"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Radish

14
successive plantings in your 252-day season

Sow every 2.4 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 12 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 21.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/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 Radish

Radish 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 Radish Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 8.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 10.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 11.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 9.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 9.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 7.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Radish 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.

Radish needs ~542 GDD — county provides 4,788 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline — Newton County, TX

Radish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow February 16 Feb 16 – Mar 9
Harvest March 16 Mar 16 – Apr 6
Fall Sowing September 21 Sep 21 – Oct 5

Plant 0.5" deep · 2" apart · Rows 6" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Direct Sow
March Direct Sow Harvest
April Harvest
May
June
July
August
September Fall Sowing
October Fall Sowing
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

22–35 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

252 days in Newton County

Growing Tips for Radish in Newton County

Direct sow Radish outdoors after March 09 in Newton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Summer highs in Newton County reach 92°F — grow Radish as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Your generous 252.0-day season in Newton County allows multiple plantings of Radish. Sow every 11.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Radish in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow every 1-2 weeks for continuous harvest. Do not transplant. Harvest spring radishes promptly to prevent them from becoming pithy and hot.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Hyssop

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Radish in Newton County, TX?

Newton County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of March 9. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Newton County, TX?

Newton County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 9 and first fall frost is November 16.

🌱

Your Newton County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Newton County (Zone 9a). 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 Newton 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.