Blog

When to plant Lovage in Barber County, KS

Barber County sits in cold Zone 7a. Plant Lovage April 22–May 6 for the single annual harvest; the October 24 first frost closes the window.

When to Plant Lovage in Barber County, KS

Barber County, Kansas Zone 7a June

Your June game plan for Barber County, Kansas

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

Avg. last frost April 15
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.5 hrs
Looking ahead to July
  • First harvests: lovage

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Lovage is a large perennial herb with a celery-like flavor that can grow 4-6 feet tall. All parts are edible including the leaves, stems, seeds, and roots.

Barber County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 964 feet, Barber County receives approximately 20.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Lovage during the growing season.

Barber County, KS (Zone 7a) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Barber County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Lovage Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (49 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (55 days to spare)
Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 15

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 Barber County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.1) overlaps with Lovage's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — Lovage will thrive.

How to Plant Lovage

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

Succession Planting Lovage

3
successive plantings in your 192-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 26 to harvest before frost.

Lovage Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,127 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Lovage

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

Month Lovage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
May 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.3" 3" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Lovage 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.

Lovage needs ~1,400 GDD — county provides 3,360 GDD Excellent fit

Lovage Planting Timeline — Barber County, KS

Lovage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 22 Apr 22 – May 6
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 – Sep 2

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Barber County

Growing Tips for Lovage in Barber County

Direct sow Lovage outdoors after April 15 in Barber County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Lovage in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Barber County receives only 21" of rain annually. Lovage needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors or direct sow in spring. One plant is usually enough for a family. Harvest outer stems and leaves as needed. Divide clumps every 3-4 years.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lovage in Barber County, KS?

Barber County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Lovage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Barber County, KS?

Barber County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 24.

When should I plant Lovage in Barber County, KS?

In Barber County, KS, plant Lovage after the last frost (around April 15) and before the first frost (around October 24). Best results when soil holds above 50°F.

What growing zone is Barber County, KS for Lovage?

Barber County sits in USDA Zone 7a. Lovage grows reliably in zones 3a through 8b, so it's a good fit here.

Can Lovage grow in Barber County's climate?

Yes — Lovage grows well in Barber County's temperate climate. Barber County averages a 192-day frost-free season, with last frost around April 15 and first frost around October 24.

🌱

Your Barber County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Barber County (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Barber County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

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