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When to Plant Corn in San Saba County, TX

Corn is a warm-season grass grown for its sweet ears, which are best eaten soon after harvest. It is wind-pollinated and must be planted in blocks for good kernel fill.

San Saba County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost is November 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 240 days.

At an elevation of 3,436 feet, San Saba County receives approximately 60.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Corn during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Corn root diseases.

San Saba County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
240 days
Last Spring Frost March 19
240 growing days
First Fall Frost November 14

San Saba 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 (127 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 8 🍅 Harvest: May 10 – Jul 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 19 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jul 16
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 14 – Aug 9

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 San Saba County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“7.3) overlaps with Corn's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in San Saba County is excellent for Corn โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.0%). Annual compost additions will help Corn.

How to Plant Corn

1"
Planting Depth
12"
Between Plants
36"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Corn

4
successive plantings in your 240-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 06 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 931 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Corn

Corn needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Corn Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 4" 2.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 6.5" 6" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 6.5" 9.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 6.5" 10.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 6.5" 8.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 6.5" 6.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 6.5" 5.2" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 6.5" 1.8" 4.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Corn 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.

Corn needs ~1,580 GDD — county provides 4,740 GDD Excellent fit

Corn Planting Timeline โ€” San Saba County, TX

Corn Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 16
Harvest May 28 May 28 โ€“ Jul 23

Plant 1" deep ยท 12" apart ยท Rows 36" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.5"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

240 days in San Saba County

Growing Tips for Corn in San Saba County

Direct sow Corn outdoors after March 19 in San Saba County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Corn in this region include corn earworm and corn borers. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Plant in blocks of at least 4 rows rather than single rows for proper pollination. Direct sow after soil reaches 60F. Side-dress with nitrogen when plants are knee-high.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Celery

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Corn in San Saba County, TX?

San Saba County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 19. Plan your Corn planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is San Saba County, TX?

San Saba County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 19 and first fall frost is November 14.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help San Saba County gardeners in Zone 8a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for San Saba County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.