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When to Plant Cress in Jasper County, IN

Garden cress is one of the fastest-growing edibles, producing peppery sprouts in as little as two weeks. It is excellent for microgreens and garnishes.

Jasper County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 176 days.

At an elevation of 1,082 feet, Jasper County receives approximately 36.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Cress to ensure they mature before fall.

Jasper County, IN (Zone 5b) Moderate season
176 days
Last Spring Frost April 24
176 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Jasper County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Cress

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

Month Cress Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Cress Planting Timeline โ€” Jasper County, IN

Cress Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 20 Mar 20 โ€“ Apr 3
Transplant Outdoors April 24 Apr 24 โ€“ May 8
Direct Sow April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ May 1
Harvest May 8 May 8 โ€“ May 29
Fall Sowing August 8 Aug 8 โ€“ Aug 22

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 2" apart ยท Rows 6" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

14โ€“21 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

176 days in Jasper County

Growing Tips for Jasper County

Sow seeds thickly on moist soil or paper towels. Keep moist and harvest when 2-3 inches tall. Succession sow every few days for continuous supply. Grows well indoors year-round.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cress in Jasper County, IN?

Jasper County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 24. Plan your Cress planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jasper County, IN?

Jasper County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 24 and first fall frost is October 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Jasper County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 Jasper County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.