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When to Plant Epazote in Reagan County, TX

Reagan County, Texas Zone 8a June

Your June planting checklist for Reagan County, Texas

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

Avg. last frost March 30
Avg. first frost November 9
Soil temp (4") 66°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. It's harvest week for epazote

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

Before July arrives, get these ready
  • First harvests: epazote

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Epazote is a pungent Mexican herb traditionally cooked with black beans to reduce their gas-causing properties. It has a strong, unique flavor that is an acquired taste.

Reagan County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost is November 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 224 days.

At an elevation of 3,983 feet, Reagan County receives approximately 51.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 97°F, so Epazote may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Epazote will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Epazote root diseases.

Reagan County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
224 days
Last Spring Frost March 30
224 growing days
First Fall Frost November 9

Reagan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.7-8.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Epazote Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 27 Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (105 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jul 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Aug 12

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 Reagan County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.7–8.9) is more alkaline than Epazote prefers (6.0–8.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.1%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Epazote.

How to Plant Epazote

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

Succession Planting Epazote

5
successive plantings in your 224-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 10 to harvest before frost.

Epazote Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/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 Epazote

Epazote 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 Epazote Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 2.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 1.9" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
May 2.2" 1.4" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Jun 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 2.2" 9.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 10.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Epazote 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.

Epazote needs ~1,194 GDD — county provides 5,096 GDD Excellent fit

Epazote Planting Timeline — Reagan County, TX

Epazote Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 9 Feb 9 – Feb 23
Transplant Outdoors April 13 Apr 13 – Apr 27
Direct Sow April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 27
Harvest June 1 Jun 1 – Jul 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

45–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

224 days in Reagan County

Growing Tips for Epazote in Reagan County

Direct sow Epazote outdoors after March 30 in Reagan County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

With summer highs reaching 97°F in Reagan County, provide afternoon shade for Epazote and water deeply in the morning.

Your generous 224.0-day season in Reagan County allows multiple plantings of Epazote. Sow every 22.0 days for continuous harvest.

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost. Epazote grows easily and self-sows aggressively. Use sparingly in cooking as the flavor is very strong. Harvest leaves before flowering for best flavor.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Epazote in Reagan County, TX?

Reagan County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 30. Plan your Epazote planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Reagan County, TX?

Reagan County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 30 and first fall frost is November 9.

🌱

Your Reagan County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Reagan County (Zone 8a). 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 Reagan County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.