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When to Plant Epazote in Sherman County, TX

Sherman County, Texas Zone 7a May

May to-do list for Sherman 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 April 20
Avg. first frost October 18
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Set out epazote seedlings

    Your last frost (April 20) has passed. These warm-season crops can handle outdoor soil now.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: epazote
  • 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.

Sherman County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 181 days.

At an elevation of 3,372 feet, Sherman County receives approximately 46.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Epazote during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Epazote will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Sherman County, TX (Zone 7a) Moderate season
181 days
Last Spring Frost April 20
181 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18
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Sherman County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.6-8.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Jun 16 – Aug 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Aug 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (63 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Sep 2

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 Sherman County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.6–8.1) overlaps with Epazote's range (6.0–8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Sherman 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 (1.0%). 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

4
successive plantings in your 181-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 19 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/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 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 1.7" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
May 2.2" 1.1" 1.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 2.2" 1.6" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jul 2.2" 7.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 9.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Sherman 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 ~958 GDD — county provides 3,303 GDD Excellent fit

Epazote Planting Timeline — Sherman County, TX

Epazote Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 2 Mar 2 – Mar 16
Transplant Outdoors May 4 May 4 – May 18
Direct Sow April 27 Apr 27 – May 18
Harvest June 22 Jun 22 – Aug 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

181 days in Sherman County

Growing Tips for Epazote in Sherman County

Direct sow Epazote outdoors after April 20 in Sherman County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Your generous 181.0-day season in Sherman 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 Sherman County, TX?

Sherman County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 20. Plan your Epazote planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sherman County, TX?

Sherman County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 20 and first fall frost is October 18.

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Your Sherman County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sherman County (Zone 7a). 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 Sherman 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.