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When to Plant Che Fruit in Labette County, KS

Che fruit (Chinese mulberry) is a small, cold-hardy tree producing round, red fruits with a sweet, watermelon-fig flavor. It is an underutilized fruit tree with great potential.

Labette County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 203 days.

At an elevation of 421 feet, Labette County receives approximately 22.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Che Fruit during the growing season.

Labette County, KS (Zone 6b) Long season
203 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
203 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Labette County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Che Fruit

Che Fruit needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Che Fruit Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.3" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Che Fruit Planting Timeline โ€” Labette County, KS

Che Fruit Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 28 Apr 28 โ€“ May 12

ยท 120" apart ยท Rows 144" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors
May Transplant Outdoors
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

1095โ€“1825 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

203 days in Labette County

Growing Tips for Labette County

Plant in well-drained soil. A male pollinator is needed for seeded fruit, but seedless fruit can set parthenocarpically. Minimal pruning required. Fruits ripen in late summer.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Che Fruit in Labette County, KS?

Labette County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 7. Plan your Che Fruit planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Labette County, KS?

Labette County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Labette County gardeners in Zone 6b 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 Labette County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.