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When to Plant Mulberries in Allen County, KS

Allen County, Kansas Zone 6b May

May in Allen County, Kansas — your action list

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 April 8
Avg. first frost October 25
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs

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Mulberries are fast-growing, long-lived trees that produce abundant sweet-tart berries over an extended harvest period. The berries resemble elongated blackberries.

Allen County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 200 days.

At an elevation of 578 feet, Allen County receives approximately 26.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Mulberries during the growing season.

Allen County, KS (Zone 6b) Long season
200 days
Last Spring Frost April 8
200 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25

Allen County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 10

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 Allen County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.8) is more alkaline than Mulberries prefers (5.5–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Mulberries will thrive.

How to Plant Mulberries

120"
Between Plants
144"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 943 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Mulberries

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

Month Mulberries Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mulberries 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.

Mulberries needs ~20,440 GDD — county provides 3,200 GDD May not mature

Mulberries Planting Timeline — Allen County, KS

Mulberries Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 29 Apr 29 – May 13

· 120" apart · Rows 144" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

730–1825 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

200 days in Allen County

Growing Tips for Mulberries in Allen County

Direct sow Mulberries outdoors after April 08 in Allen County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 200.0-day growing season in Allen County is tight for Mulberries (730.0-1825.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Plant away from driveways and patios as fallen berries stain. Minimal pruning is needed. Harvest by shaking branches over a tarp. Birds love mulberries so plant extra.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mulberries in Allen County, KS?

Allen County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 8. Plan your Mulberries planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Allen County, KS?

Allen County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 8 and first fall frost is October 25.

🌱

Your Allen County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Allen County (Zone 6b). 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 Allen County, KS. 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.