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When to Plant Tomatoes in Wilbarger County, TX

Tomatoes are the most popular home garden crop, available in thousands of varieties from tiny cherries to massive beefsteaks. They are warm-season plants needing full sun.

Wilbarger County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 230 days.

At an elevation of 1,980 feet, Wilbarger County receives approximately 51.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tomatoes during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Tomatoes root diseases.

Wilbarger County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
230 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
230 growing days
First Fall Frost November 10

Wilbarger County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (84 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 24 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Aug 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Aug 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 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 Wilbarger County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2โ€“7.6) overlaps with Tomatoes's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.1%). Annual compost additions will help Tomatoes.

How to Plant Tomatoes

0.5"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
36"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Tomatoes

4
successive plantings in your 230-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 17 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.2″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 620 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Tomatoes

Tomatoes needs approximately 1.2 inches of water per week (5.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Tomatoes Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 5.2" 3.4" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 5.2" 5.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 5.2" 8.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 5.2" 7.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 5.2" 7.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 5.2" 5.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 5.2" 4.9" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 5.2" 3.3" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 5.2" 1.5" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Tomatoes 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.

Tomatoes needs ~1,432 GDD — county provides 4,542 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Wilbarger County, TX

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 4 Feb 4 โ€“ Feb 18
Transplant Outdoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 22
Harvest June 10 Jun 10 โ€“ Aug 19

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 24" apart ยท Rows 36" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.2"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“85 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

230 days in Wilbarger County

Growing Tips for Tomatoes in Wilbarger County

Direct sow Tomatoes outdoors after March 25 in Wilbarger County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Tomatoes in this region include tomato hornworm and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Bury transplants deep to encourage rooting along the stem. Provide consistent moisture to prevent blossom end rot and cracking.

Recommended Tomatoes Varieties for Wilbarger County

Your long season supports large indeterminate heirloom types

Brandywine (80d) Cherokee Purple (80d) San Marzano (80d) Mortgage Lifter (85d)

Disease-resistant varieties for your humid climate

Mountain Merit (VF) Defiant (LB) Iron Lady (EB/LB/SF)

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Cabbage
  • Fennel
  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

๐ŸŒพ Save Your Own Tomatoes Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Scoop seeds from ripe fruit; ferment 2-3 days to remove gel coating.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4-6 years at 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

Isolate 25 ft between varieties for purity. Use open-pollinated varieties for true-to-type seeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tomatoes in Wilbarger County, TX?

Wilbarger County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 25. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wilbarger County, TX?

Wilbarger County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Wilbarger County gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Wilbarger County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.