Blog

When to Plant Radish in Keya Paha County, NE

Radishes are one of the fastest-growing vegetables, with some varieties ready in under a month. They come in round, elongated, and large winter types.

Keya Paha County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is October 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 152 days.

At an elevation of 1,079 feet, Keya Paha County receives approximately 31.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Radish to ensure they mature before fall.

Keya Paha County, NE (Zone 4b) Moderate season
152 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
152 growing days
First Fall Frost October 9

Keya Paha County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jun 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Jun 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (108 days to spare)
Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 16 – Jul 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.

Soil Compatibility in Keya Paha County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.5) overlaps with Radish's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) โ€” Radish will thrive.

How to Plant Radish

0.5"
Planting Depth
2"
Between Plants
6"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Radish

8
successive plantings in your 152-day season

Sow every 2.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 17.

Plant Water Budget

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Radish

Radish needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Radish Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 2.2" 4.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Radish 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.

Radish needs ~349 GDD — county provides 1,862 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline โ€” Keya Paha County, NE

Radish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 3 May 3 โ€“ May 24
Harvest May 31 May 31 โ€“ Jun 21
Fall Sowing July 17 Jul 17 โ€“ Jul 31

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

22โ€“35 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

152 days in Keya Paha County

Growing Tips for Radish in Keya Paha County

Direct sow Radish outdoors after May 10 in Keya Paha County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 152.0-day season in Keya Paha County allows multiple plantings of Radish. Sow every 11.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Radish in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow every 1-2 weeks for continuous harvest. Do not transplant. Harvest spring radishes promptly to prevent them from becoming pithy and hot.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Hyssop

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Radish in Keya Paha County, NE?

Keya Paha County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Keya Paha County, NE?

Keya Paha County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is October 9.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Keya Paha County gardeners in Zone 4b 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 Keya Paha County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.