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When to Plant Cosmos in Webb County, TX

Webb County, Texas Zone 9b June

Your June game plan for Webb County, Texas

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

Avg. last frost February 9
Avg. first frost December 9
Soil temp (4") 78°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.7 hrs
  1. Basket week: cosmos

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

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

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Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is an airy, feathery-foliaged cottage garden annual from Mexico that thrives on neglect. It produces delicate daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, white, and magenta from midsummer until frost. Cosmos is a prolific self-sower — once established in a garden it often returns year after year without replanting. Excellent habitat plant for beneficial insects.

Webb County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 9 and the first fall frost is December 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 303 days.

At an elevation of 3,543 feet, Webb County receives approximately 50.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 95°F, so Cosmos may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Cosmos root diseases.

Annual Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Webb County, TX (Zone 9b) Year-round
303 days
Last Spring Frost February 9
303 growing days
First Fall Frost December 9
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Webb County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Cosmos Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 22 Transplant: Dec 15 🌸 Bloom: Feb 23 – Aug 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 12 Transplant: Jan 5 🌸 Bloom: Mar 16 – Sep 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Jan 29 🌸 Bloom: Apr 9 – Oct 8

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 Webb County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.7) is within Cosmos's preferred range (6.0–8.0).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Webb County is excellent for Cosmos — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Cosmos

0.3"
Planting Depth
12"
Between Plants
18"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Cosmos

6
successive plantings in your 303-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 10 to harvest before frost.

Cosmos Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/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 Cosmos

Cosmos 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 Cosmos Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.2" 1.9" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Mar 2.2" 2.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 8.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 7.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 5.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 6.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 5.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 1.7" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Dec 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" 💧 Light watering

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

Cosmos 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.

Cosmos needs ~1,594 GDD — county provides 6,460 GDD Excellent fit

Cosmos Planting Timeline — Webb County, TX

Cosmos Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 12 Jan 12 – Jan 26
Transplant Outdoors January 5 Jan 5 – Jan 19
Direct Sow January 5 Jan 5 – Jan 26
Bloom March 16 Mar 16 – Sep 14

Plant 0.3" deep · 12" apart · Rows 18" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
February
March Bloom
April Bloom
May Bloom
June Bloom
July Bloom
August Bloom
September Bloom
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

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9b

📆 Growing Season

303 days in Webb County

Growing Tips for Cosmos in Webb County

Direct sow Cosmos outdoors after February 09 in Webb County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Direct-sow after last frost; cosmos germinates readily at 65-80°F in 7-10 days. Avoid rich soil — excess fertility produces lush foliage at the expense of blooms. Cosmos tolerates poor, dry soil exceptionally well. Pinch seedlings at 8 inches to encourage branching. Self-sows freely; allow some seed heads to mature and drop for a no-fuss perennial effect in warm climates.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cosmos in Webb County, TX?

Webb County is in Zone 9b with an average last frost of February 9. Plan your Cosmos planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Webb County, TX?

Webb County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 9 and first fall frost is December 9.

🌱

Your Webb County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Webb County (Zone 9b). 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 Webb 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.