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When to Plant Sorrel in Riley County, KS

Sorrel is a perennial herb with tangy, lemon-flavored arrow-shaped leaves. It is one of the first greens to emerge in spring and is used in soups and salads.

Riley County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 184 days.

At an elevation of 551 feet, Riley County receives approximately 32.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Sorrel during the growing season.

Riley County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
184 days
Last Spring Frost April 17
184 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Riley County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Sorrel Planting Timeline โ€” Riley County, KS

Sorrel Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 13 Mar 13 โ€“ Mar 27
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ Apr 24
Direct Sow April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 24
Harvest May 22 May 22 โ€“ Jul 24
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 โ€“ Aug 23

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.5โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

184 days in Riley County

Growing Tips for Riley County

Direct sow in early spring or fall. Remove flower stalks promptly to encourage leaf production. Divide clumps every 3-4 years. Young leaves have the best flavor.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Sorrel in Riley County, KS?

Riley County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 17. Plan your Sorrel planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Riley County, KS?

Riley County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 17 and first fall frost is October 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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