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When to Plant Tomatoes in Reeves 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.

Reeves County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 27 and the first fall frost is November 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 228 days.

At an elevation of 4,504 feet, Reeves County receives approximately 44.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 97ยฐF, 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.

Reeves County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
228 days
Last Spring Frost March 27
228 growing days
First Fall Frost November 10

Reeves County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.5-8.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (80 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 27 Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: Jun 2 – Aug 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 6 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Sep 11

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 Reeves County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.5โ€“8.8) is more alkaline than Tomatoes prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Reeves 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 (0.9%). 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 228-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
0.8″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 908 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Tomatoes needs ~1,649 GDD — county provides 5,187 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Reeves County, TX

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 6 Feb 6 โ€“ Feb 20
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ Apr 24
Direct Sow April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 24
Harvest June 12 Jun 12 โ€“ Aug 21

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: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

228 days in Reeves County

Growing Tips for Tomatoes in Reeves County

Direct sow Tomatoes outdoors after March 27 in Reeves County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Reeves 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 97ยฐF in Reeves 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 Reeves County

Heat-set varieties that pollinate reliably above 90ยฐF

Solar Fire Florida 91 Phoenix Heat Wave II

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Cabbage
  • Fennel
  • Potatoes

Level Up Your Garden

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 Reeves County, TX?

Reeves County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 27. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Reeves County, TX?

Reeves County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 27 and first fall frost is November 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Reeves County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Reeves County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.