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When to Plant Mint in Sedgwick County, CO

Sedgwick County, Colorado Zone 5b May

This month in Sedgwick County, Colorado

Your garden in Sedgwick County, Colorado is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost May 4
Avg. first frost October 8
Soil temp (4") 36°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Move mint into the garden

    Bring a watering can to the bed. Each transplant gets a drink the moment it's in the ground, not ten minutes later.

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Mint is a vigorous perennial herb with refreshing, aromatic leaves used in teas, cocktails, and cooking. It spreads aggressively by underground runners.

Sedgwick County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost is October 8, giving you a growing season of approximately 157 days.

At an elevation of 7,669 feet, Sedgwick County receives approximately 20.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Mint during the growing season.

Sedgwick County, CO (Zone 5b) Moderate season
157 days
Last Spring Frost May 4
157 growing days
First Fall Frost October 8

Sedgwick County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (17 days to spare)
Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (17 days to spare)
Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (14 days to spare)
Transplant: May 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Oct 3

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 Sedgwick County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–8.3) is more alkaline than Mint prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Sedgwick County is excellent for Mint — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). Annual compost additions will help Mint.

How to Plant Mint

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Mint

3
successive plantings in your 157-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 10 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 254 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Mint

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

Month Mint Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 2.6" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 1.5" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3" 1.9" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 2.1" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3" 1.6" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 1.6" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mint 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.

Mint needs ~1,088 GDD — county provides 2,276 GDD Excellent fit

Mint Planting Timeline — Sedgwick County, CO

Mint Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 – May 25
Harvest July 13 Jul 13 – Sep 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

157 days in Sedgwick County

Growing Tips for Mint in Sedgwick County

Direct sow Mint outdoors after May 04 in Sedgwick County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Always grow mint in containers or with underground barriers to control spreading. Harvest regularly to keep plants compact. Cut plants back in late summer for a fresh fall flush.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Parsley

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mint in Sedgwick County, CO?

Sedgwick County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 4. Plan your Mint planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sedgwick County, CO?

Sedgwick County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 4 and first fall frost is October 8.

🌱

Your Sedgwick County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sedgwick County (Zone 5b). 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 Sedgwick County, CO. 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.