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When to Plant Crosne in Clay County, TN

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, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 198 days.

At an elevation of 1,418 feet, Clay County receives approximately 42.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Crosne during the growing season.

Clay County, TN (Zone 6b) Moderate season
198 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
198 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Clay County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (1 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: Sep 8 – Oct 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: Sep 13 – Oct 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Sep 26 – Nov 7

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Crosne needs ~2,538 GDD — county provides 2,871 GDD Good fit

Crosne Planting Timeline โ€” Clay County, TN

Crosne Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 โ€“ Apr 19
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1
Harvest August 30 Aug 30 โ€“ Oct 11

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 Harvest
September Fall Sowing Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

150โ€“200 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6b

Growing Season

198 days

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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Crosne in Clay County, TN?

Clay County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 12. Plan your Crosne planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Clay County, TN?

Clay County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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