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When to Plant Crosne in Kingman County, KS

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.

Kingman County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 193 days.

At an elevation of 746 feet, Kingman County receives approximately 21.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Crosne during the growing season.

Kingman County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
193 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
193 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Kingman County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Sep 9 – Oct 21
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Sep 15 – Oct 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (3 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Sep 27 – Nov 8

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 Kingman County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“7.6) is more alkaline than Crosne prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) โ€” Crosne will thrive.

How to Plant Crosne

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,115 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

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€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Crosne 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.

Crosne needs ~3,062 GDD — county provides 3,377 GDD Good fit

Crosne Planting Timeline โ€” Kingman County, KS

Crosne Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 21
Harvest September 1 Sep 1 โ€“ Oct 13
Fall Sowing August 15 Aug 15 โ€“ Aug 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Direct Sow
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

1"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

150โ€“200 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

193 days in Kingman County

Growing Tips for Crosne in Kingman County

Direct sow Crosne outdoors after April 14 in Kingman County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 193.0-day growing season in Kingman County is tight for Crosne (150.0-200.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

Kingman County receives only 21" of rain annually. Crosne needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

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 Kingman County, KS?

Kingman County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 14. Plan your Crosne planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kingman County, KS?

Kingman County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 24.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Kingman 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 Kingman County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.