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When to Plant Tomatoes in Webb 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.

Webb County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. 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 95ยฐF, so Tomatoes may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Tomatoes root diseases.

Webb County, TX (Zone 9a) Year-round
303 days
Last Spring Frost February 9
303 growing days
First Fall Frost December 9

Webb County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (177 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 8 Transplant: Jan 26 🍅 Harvest: Mar 30 – Jun 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (163 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 29 Transplant: Feb 16 🍅 Harvest: Apr 20 – Jun 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (151 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 22 Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 23

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 Tomatoes's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6โ€“7.7) is more alkaline than Tomatoes prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Tomatoes

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

Succession Planting Tomatoes

6
successive plantings in your 303-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 15 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.2″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,613 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€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 5.2" 1.9" 3.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Mar 5.2" 2.8" 2.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 5.2" 5" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 5.2" 8.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 5.2" 7.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 5.2" 5.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 5.2" 6.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 5.2" 5.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 5.2" 3.4" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 5.2" 1.7" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec 5.2" 1.5" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Dec in Webb 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 ~1,541 GDD — county provides 6,460 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Webb County, TX

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 29 Dec 29 โ€“ Jan 12
Transplant Outdoors February 16 Feb 16 โ€“ Mar 2
Direct Sow February 9 Feb 9 โ€“ Mar 2
Harvest April 20 Apr 20 โ€“ Jun 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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 9a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

303 days in Webb County

Growing Tips for Tomatoes in Webb County

Direct sow Tomatoes outdoors after February 09 in Webb 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 Webb County

Heat-set varieties that pollinate reliably above 90ยฐF

Solar Fire Florida 91 Phoenix Heat Wave II

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 Webb County, TX?

Webb County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 9. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Webb County, TX?

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

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Webb County gardeners in Zone 9a 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 Webb County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.