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When to Plant Daikon in Thayer County, NE

Daikon is a large, mild Japanese radish that can grow over a foot long. It is excellent for pickling, stir-fries, and as a soil-breaking cover crop.

Thayer County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost is October 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 176 days.

At an elevation of 531 feet, Thayer County receives approximately 27.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Daikon to ensure they mature before fall.

Thayer County, NE (Zone 5a) Moderate season
176 days
Last Spring Frost April 21
176 growing days
First Fall Frost October 14

Thayer County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (95 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Jul 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (92 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 16 – Jul 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Jul 26

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 642 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Daikon needs ~780 GDD — county provides 2,288 GDD Excellent fit

Daikon Planting Timeline โ€” Thayer County, NE

Daikon Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 28
Fall Sowing August 5 Aug 5 โ€“ Aug 19
Harvest June 2 Jun 2 โ€“ Jun 30

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

50โ€“70 days

Soil pH

5.8 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 5a

Growing Season

176 days

Growing Tips for Thayer County

Direct sow in late summer for fall harvest. Loosen soil deeply before planting. Thin seedlings to 6 inches apart. Harvest before hard freeze as exposed shoulders may crack.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Hyssop

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Daikon in Thayer County, NE?

Thayer County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of April 21. Plan your Daikon planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Thayer County, NE?

Thayer County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and first fall frost is October 14.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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