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When to Plant Romanesco in Daviess County, IN

Romanesco is a stunning brassica with a lime-green head composed of fractal-patterned spiraling florets. It has a nuttier, milder flavor than cauliflower.

Daviess County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 190 days.

At an elevation of 806 feet, Daviess County receives approximately 32.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Romanesco during the growing season.

Daviess County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
190 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
190 growing days
First Fall Frost October 21

Daviess County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (72 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (71 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 11
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (72 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 25 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Aug 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.

Soil Compatibility in Daviess County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8โ€“7.2) overlaps with Romanesco's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.7%) โ€” Romanesco will thrive.

How to Plant Romanesco

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Romanesco

2
successive plantings in your 190-day season

Sow every 8.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 12.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 562 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Romanesco

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

Month Romanesco Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Romanesco 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.

Romanesco needs ~1,400 GDD — county provides 3,040 GDD Excellent fit

Romanesco Planting Timeline โ€” Daviess County, IN

Romanesco Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 24
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 โ€“ Apr 28
Direct Sow March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 21
Harvest June 30 Jun 30 โ€“ Aug 11
Fall Sowing August 12 Aug 12 โ€“ Aug 26

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

75โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

190 days in Daviess County

Growing Tips for Romanesco in Daviess County

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

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

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 5-7 weeks before transplanting. Provide consistent moisture and avoid temperature stress. Harvest when head is fully formed but before florets begin to separate.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Romanesco in Daviess County, IN?

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

What planting zone is Daviess County, IN?

Daviess County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 21.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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