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When to Plant Kohlrabi in Poinsett County, AR

Poinsett County, Arkansas Zone 8a May

Poinsett County, Arkansas gardeners: here's your May plan

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost March 22
Avg. first frost November 5
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. It's harvest week for kohlrabi

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • First harvests: kohlrabi

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Kohlrabi is an unusual brassica that forms a swollen stem above ground with a mild, sweet turnip-like flavor. Both the bulb and tender leaves are edible.

Poinsett County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 22 and the first fall frost is November 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 228 days.

At an elevation of 247 feet, Poinsett County receives approximately 45.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Kohlrabi during the growing season.

Poinsett County, AR (Zone 8a) Long season
228 days
Last Spring Frost March 22
228 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5

Poinsett County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (148 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 6 Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: May 1 – Jun 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (144 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 10 – Jun 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (150 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jul 1

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 Poinsett County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6–6.8) overlaps with Kohlrabi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Poinsett County is excellent for Kohlrabi — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Kohlrabi.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help Kohlrabi.

How to Plant Kohlrabi

0.5"
Planting Depth
4"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Kohlrabi

6
successive plantings in your 228-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 01 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 27.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Kohlrabi Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Poinsett County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Kohlrabi 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" — every day above 50°F 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.

Kohlrabi needs ~921 GDD — county provides 3,819 GDD Excellent fit

Kohlrabi Planting Timeline — Poinsett County, AR

Kohlrabi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 15 Feb 15 – Mar 1
Transplant Outdoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Direct Sow March 8 Mar 8 – Mar 29
Harvest May 10 May 10 – Jun 14
Fall Sowing August 27 Aug 27 – Sep 10

Plant 0.5" deep · 4" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

45–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

228 days in Poinsett County

Growing Tips for Kohlrabi in Poinsett County

Direct sow Kohlrabi outdoors after March 22 in Poinsett County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 228.0-day season in Poinsett County allows multiple plantings of Kohlrabi. Sow every 22.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Kohlrabi 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 in spring or fall. Harvest when bulbs are 2-3 inches in diameter for best texture and flavor. Larger bulbs may become woody and fibrous.

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 Kohlrabi in Poinsett County, AR?

Poinsett County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 22. Plan your Kohlrabi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Poinsett County, AR?

Poinsett County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 22 and first fall frost is November 5.

🌱

Your Poinsett County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Poinsett County (Zone 8a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Poinsett County, AR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.