Blog

When to plant Pansy in Cherokee County, KS

Cherokee County's spring Pansy window runs April 9 through April 23. most warm-season crops establish quickly once soil holds above 60°F. A second sowing from August 17 to August 31 extends the harvest into fall.

When to Plant Pansy in Cherokee County, KS

Cherokee County, Kansas Zone 7a June

Your June game plan for Cherokee County, Kansas

Welcome to June in Zone 7a. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost April 9
Avg. first frost October 26
Soil temp (4") 72°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: pansy

    You're about 17 weeks out from your last frost — the perfect window to get these germinating indoors.

  2. Collect pansy at their peak

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

July will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: pansy

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Pansies (Viola × wittrockiana) are beloved cool-season annuals offering some of the widest color range in the annual garden. Their cheerful "faces" appear in early spring — or even late winter in mild climates — and hold up remarkably well through frosts. Heat causes them to go leggy and stop blooming; replace with warm-season annuals once daytime temps exceed 70°F.

Cherokee County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 200 days.

At an elevation of 812 feet, Cherokee County receives approximately 25.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Pansy during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Cherokee County, KS (Zone 7a) Long season
200 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
200 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Cherokee County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Pansy Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 23 Transplant: Apr 3 🌸 Bloom: May 29 – Aug 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 29 Transplant: Apr 9 🌸 Bloom: Jun 4 – Aug 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 10 Transplant: Apr 21 🌸 Bloom: Jun 16 – Aug 25

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 Cherokee County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.9) is more alkaline than Pansy prefers (5.4–6.2). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Pansy.

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Pansy

0.3"
Planting Depth
7"
Between Plants
10"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Pansy

3
successive plantings in your 200-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 28 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 17.

Pansy Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,642 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Pansy

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

Month Pansy Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Pansy 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.

Pansy needs ~1,160 GDD — county provides 2,900 GDD Excellent fit

Pansy Planting Timeline — Cherokee County, KS

Pansy Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 29 Jan 29 – Feb 12
Transplant Outdoors April 9 Apr 9 – Apr 23
Bloom June 4 Jun 4 – Aug 13
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 – Aug 31

Plant 0.3" deep · 7" apart · Rows 10" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.4–6.2 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

200 days in Cherokee County

Growing Tips for Pansy in Cherokee County

Direct sow Pansy outdoors after April 09 in Cherokee County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Start indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost for spring transplants. In zones 6+, fall planting (8-10 weeks before first frost) gives overwintering plants that bloom earliest in spring. Plant in full sun in cool weather; afternoon shade helps extend bloom in zones 7-8. Deadhead to prevent premature seed set. Shear back by one-third when plants go leggy to extend the season.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Pansy in Cherokee County, KS?

Cherokee County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Pansy planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cherokee County, KS?

Cherokee County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 26.

When should I plant Pansy in Cherokee County, KS?

In Cherokee County, KS, plant Pansy after the last frost (around April 9) and before the first frost (around October 26). Best results when soil holds above 50°F.

What growing zone is Cherokee County, KS for Pansy?

Cherokee County sits in USDA Zone 7a. Pansy grows reliably in zones 3a through 10b, so it's a good fit here.

Can Pansy grow in Cherokee County's climate?

Yes — Pansy grows well in Cherokee County's temperate climate. Cherokee County averages a 200-day frost-free season, with last frost around April 9 and first frost around October 26.

🌱

Your Cherokee County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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.