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When to Plant Crosne in Clay County, IN

Crosne (Chinese artichoke) produces small, segmented white tubers with a crunchy texture and mild artichoke-nutty flavor. They are a rare delicacy in French cuisine.

Clay County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 182 days.

At an elevation of 886 feet, Clay County receives approximately 31.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Crosne during the growing season.

Clay County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
182 days
Last Spring Frost April 18
182 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Clay County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Crosne

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

Month Crosne Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.3" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.3" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Crosne Planting Timeline โ€” Clay County, IN

Crosne Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 4 Apr 4 โ€“ Apr 25
Harvest September 5 Sep 5 โ€“ Oct 17
Fall Sowing August 8 Aug 8 โ€“ Aug 22

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July โ€”
August Fall Sowing
September Harvest
October Harvest
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

150โ€“200 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

182 days in Clay County

Growing Tips for Clay County

Plant tubers 3 inches deep in spring. Mark the location well as plants die back. Harvest in late fall after frost. Leave some tubers in ground for next year. Very labor-intensive to harvest.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Crosne in Clay County, IN?

Clay County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 18. Plan your Crosne planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Clay County, IN?

Clay County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 18 and first fall frost is October 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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