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When to Plant Tomatoes in Floyd 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.

Floyd County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is November 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 209 days.

At an elevation of 3,882 feet, Floyd County receives approximately 50.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 100ยฐF, so Tomatoes may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Tomatoes will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Tomatoes root diseases.

Floyd County, TX (Zone 7a) Long season
209 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
209 growing days
First Fall Frost November 2

Floyd County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.4-8.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 6 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 23 – Sep 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (72 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 Floyd County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.4โ€“8.6) is more alkaline than Tomatoes prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Floyd County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Tomatoes 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 Tomatoes.

How to Plant Tomatoes

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

Succession Planting Tomatoes

4
successive plantings in your 209-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 09 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.2″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 418 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€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 5.2" 1.6" 3.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 5.2" 1" 4.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 5.2" 1.6" 3.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 5.2" 9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 5.2" 10.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 5.2" 6.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 5.2" 4.8" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 5.2" 2.4" 2.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Nov in Floyd 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 ~1,812 GDD — county provides 5,225 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Floyd County, TX

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 17 Feb 17 โ€“ Mar 3
Transplant Outdoors April 21 Apr 21 โ€“ May 5
Direct Sow April 14 Apr 14 โ€“ May 5
Harvest June 23 Jun 23 โ€“ Sep 1

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.2"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“85 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

209 days in Floyd County

Growing Tips for Tomatoes in Floyd County

Direct sow Tomatoes outdoors after April 07 in Floyd County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Floyd County dries quickly โ€” mulch Tomatoes with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 100ยฐF in Floyd County, provide afternoon shade for Tomatoes and water deeply in the morning.

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 Floyd County

Heat-set varieties that pollinate reliably above 90ยฐF

Solar Fire Florida 91 Phoenix Heat Wave II

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 Floyd County, TX?

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

What planting zone is Floyd County, TX?

Floyd County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is November 2.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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